Novel compound useful for the treatment of degenerative and inflammatory diseases

ABSTRACT

A novel compound able to inhibit JAK is disclosed, this compound may be prepared as a pharmaceutical composition, and may be used for the prevention and treatment of a variety of conditions in mammals including humans, including by way of non-limiting example, inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases, proliferative diseases, transplantation rejection, diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover, congenital cartilage malformations, and/or diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/220,688, filed Jun. 26, 2009, thecontents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a compound that is an inhibitor of JAK,a family of tyrosine kinases that are involved in inflammatoryconditions, autoimmune diseases, proliferative diseases, transplantationrejection, diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover,congenital cartilage malformations, and/or diseases associated withhypersecretion of IL6. In particular, the compound of the inventioninhibits JAK1 and JAK2. The present invention also provides methods forthe production of the compound of the invention, pharmaceuticalcompositions comprising the compound of the invention, methods for theprevention and/or treatment of diseases involving inflammatoryconditions, autoimmune diseases, proliferative diseases, transplantationrejection, diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover,congenital cartilage malformations, and/or diseases associated withhypersecretion of IL6 by administering the compound of the invention.

Janus kinases (JAKs) are cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases that transducecytokine signaling from membrane receptors to STAT transcriptionfactors. Four JAK family members are described, JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 andTYK2. Upon binding of the cytokine to its receptor, JAK family membersauto- and/or transphosphorylate each other, followed by phosphorylationof STATs that then migrate to the nucleus to modulate transcription.JAK-STAT intracellular signal transduction serves the interferons, mostinterleukins, as well as a variety of cytokines and endocrine factorssuch as EPO, TPO, GH, OSM, LIF, CNTF, GM-CSF and PRL (Vainchenker W. etal. (2008)).

The combination of genetic models and small molecule JAK inhibitorresearch revealed the therapeutic potential of several JAKs. JAK3 isvalidated by mouse and human genetics as an immune-suppression target(O'Shea J. et al. (2004)). JAK3 inhibitors were successfully taken intoclinical development, initially for organ transplant rejection but lateralso in other immuno-inflammatory indications such as rheumathoidarthritis (RA), psoriasis and Crohn's disease(http://clinicaltrials.gov/).

TYK2 is a potential target for immuno-inflammatory diseases, beingvalidated by human genetics and mouse knock-out studies (Levy D. andLoomis C. (2007)).

JAK1 is a novel target in the immuno-inflammatory disease area. JAK1heterodimerizes with the other JAKs to transduce cytokine-drivenpro-inflammatory signaling. Therefore, inhibition of JAK1 and/or otherJAKs is expected to be of therapeutic benefit for a range ofinflammatory conditions as well as for other diseases driven byJAK-mediated signal transduction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The degeneration of cartilage is the hallmark of various diseases, amongwhich rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the most prominent.Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic joint degenerative disease,characterized by inflammation and destruction of the joint structures.When the disease is unchecked, it leads to substantial disability andpain due to loss of joint functionality and even premature death. Theaim of an RA therapy, therefore, is not only to slow down the diseasebut to attain remission in order to stop the joint destruction. Besidesthe severity of the disease outcome, the high prevalence of RA (˜0.8% ofthe adults are affected worldwide) means a high socio-economic impact.(For reviews on RA, we refer to Smolen and Steiner (2003); Lee andWeinblatt (2001); Choy and Panayi (2001); O'Dell (2004) and Firestein(2003)).

Osteoarthritis (also referred to as OA, or wear-and-tear arthritis) isthe most common form of arthritis and is characterized by loss ofarticular cartilage, often associated with hypertrophy of the bone andpain. For an extensive review on osteoarthritis, we refer to Wieland etal. (2005).

Osteoarthritis is difficult to treat. At present, no cure is availableand treatment focuses on relieving pain and preventing the affectedjoint from becoming deformed. Common treatments include the use ofnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Although dietarysupplements such as chondroitin and glucosamine sulphate have beenadvocated as safe and effective options for the treatment ofosteoarthritis, a recent clinical trial revealed that both treatmentsdid not reduce pain associated to osteoarthritis. (Clegg et al., 2006).

Stimulation of the anabolic processes, blocking catabolic processes, ora combination of these two, may result in stabilization of thecartilage, and perhaps even reversion of the damage, and thereforeprevent further progression of the disease. Therapeutic methods for thecorrection of the articular cartilage lesions that appear during theosteoarthritic disease have been developed, but so far none of them havebeen able to mediate the regeneration of articular cartilage in situ andin vivo. Taken together, no disease modifying osteoarthritic drugs areavailable.

Vandeghinste et al. (WO 2005/124342) discovered JAK1 as a target whoseinhibition might have therapeutic relevance for several diseasesincluding OA. Knockout of the JAK1 gene in mice demonstrated that JAK1plays essential and non-redundant roles during development: JAK1−/− micedied within 24 h after birth and lymphocyte development was severelyimpaired. Moreover, JAK1−/− cells were not, or less, reactive tocytokines that use class II cytokine receptors, cytokine receptors thatuse the gamma-c subunit for signaling and the family of cytokinereceptors that use the gp130 subunit for signaling (Rodig et al., 1998).

Various groups have implicated JAK-STAT signaling in chondrocytebiology. Li et al. (2001) showed that Oncostatin M induces MMP and TIMP3gene expression in primary chondrocytes by activation of JAK/STAT andMAPK signaling pathways. Osaki et al. (2003) showed thatinterferon-gamma mediated inhibition of collagen II in chondrocytesinvolves JAK-STAT signaling. IL1-beta induces cartilage catabolism byreducing the expression of matrix components, and by inducing theexpression of collagenases and inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2),which mediates the production of nitric oxide (NO). Otero et al., (2005)showed that leptin and IL1-beta synergistically induced NO production orexpression of NOS2 mRNA in chondrocytes, and that that was blocked by aJAK inhibitor. Legendre et al. (2003) showed that IL6/IL6 Receptorinduced downregulation of cartilage-specific matrix genes collagen II,aggrecan core and link protein in bovine articular chondrocytes, andthat this was mediated by JAK/STAT signaling. Therefore, theseobservations suggest a role for JAK kinase activity in cartilagehomeostasis and therapeutic opportunities for JAK kinase inhibitors.

JAK family members have been implicated in additional conditionsincluding myeloproliferative disorders (O'Sullivan et al, 2007, MolImmunol. 44(10):2497-506), where mutations in JAK2 have been identified.This indicates that inhibitors of JAK in particular JAK2 may also be ofuse in the treatment of myeloproliferative disorders. Additionally, theJAK family, in particular JAK1, JAK2 and JAK3, has been linked tocancers, in particular leukaemias e.g. acute myeloid leukaemia(O'Sullivan et al, 2007, Mol Immunol. 44(10):2497-506; Xiang et al.,2008, “Identification of somatic JAK1 mutations in patients with acutemyeloid leukemia” Blood First Edition Paper, prepublished online Dec.26, 2007; DOT 10.1182/blood-2007-05-090308) and acute lymphoblasticleukaemia (Mullighan et al, 2009) or solid tumours e.g. uterineleiomyosarcoma (Constantinescu et al., 2007, Trends in BiochemicalSciences 33(3): 122-131), prostate cancer (Tam et al., 2007, BritishJournal of Cancer, 97, 378-383). These results indicate that inhibitorsof JAK, in particular of JAK1 and/or JAK2, may also have utility in thetreatment of cancers (leukaemias and solid tumours e.g. uterineleiomyosarcoma, prostate cancer).

In addition, Castleman's disease, multiple myeloma, mesangialproliferative glomerulonephritis, psoriasis, and Kaposi's sarcoma arelikely due to hypersecretion of the cytokine IL-6, whose biologicaleffects are mediated by intracellular JAK-STAT signaling (Tetsuji Naka,Norihiro Nishimoto and Tadamitsu Kishimoto, Arthritis Res 2002, 4 (suppl3):S233-S242). This result shows that inhibitors of JAK, may also findutility in the treatment of said diseases.

The current therapies are not satisfactory and therefore there remains aneed to identify further compounds that may be of use in the treatmentof degenerative joint diseases, e.g. osteoarthritis, rheumatoidarthritis and osteoporosis, in particular osteoarthritis. The presentinvention therefore provides a compound, methods for its manufacture andpharmaceutical compositions comprising the compound of the inventiontogether with a suitable pharmaceutical carrier. The present inventionalso provides for the use of the compound of the invention in thepreparation of a medicament for the treatment of degenerative jointdiseases. Specifically the present invention provides a novel JAKinhibitor that exhibits a dramatically improved in vivo potency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the discovery that the compound of theinvention is able to act as an inhibitor of JAK and that it is usefulfor the treatment of inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases,proliferative diseases, transplantation rejection, diseases involvingimpairment of cartilage turnover, congenital cartilage malformations,and/or diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6. In a specificaspect the compound is an inhibitor of JAK1 and JAK2. The presentinvention also provides methods for the production of this compound, apharmaceutical composition comprising this compound and methods fortreating inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases, proliferativediseases, transplantation rejection, diseases involving impairment ofcartilage turnover, congenital cartilage malformations, and/or diseasesassociated with hypersecretion of IL6 by administering the compound ofthe invention.

Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention, a compound of theinvention is provided having a formula (I):

The compound of the invention is a novel inhibitor of JAK that appearsto exhibit a dramatically improved in vivo potency as compared tostructurally similar compounds. In a particular embodiment the compoundof the invention is an inhibitor of JAK1 and JAK2. In particular itappears to exhibit this increase in potency at lower in vivo exposurelevels compared to structurally similar compounds. The use of a compoundwith these improvements is expected to result in a lower dosagerequirement (and therefore an improved dosing schedule).

In a further aspect, the present invention provides pharmaceuticalcompositions comprising the compound of the invention, and apharmaceutical carrier, excipient or diluent. Moreover, the compound ofthe invention, useful in the pharmaceutical compositions and treatmentmethods disclosed herein, is pharmaceutically acceptable as prepared andused. In this aspect of the invention, the pharmaceutical compositionmay additionally comprise further active ingredients suitable for use incombination with the compound of the invention.

In a further aspect of the invention, this invention provides a methodof treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with a condition fromamong those listed herein, and particularly, such condition as may beassociated with aberrant JAK activity, e.g. inflammatory conditions,autoimmune diseases, proliferative diseases, transplantation rejection,diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover, congenitalcartilage malformations, and diseases associated with hypersecretion ofIL6, which method comprises administering an effective amount of thepharmaceutical composition or compound of the invention as describedherein. In a specific embodiment the condition is associated withaberrant JAK1 and JAK2 activity.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides the compound of theinvention for use in the treatment or prevention of a condition selectedfrom those listed herein, particularly such conditions as may beassociated with aberrant JAK activity, e.g. inflammatory conditions,autoimmune diseases, proliferative diseases, transplantation rejection,diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover, congenitalcartilage malformations, and diseases associated with hypersecretion ofIL6.

In yet another method of treatment aspect, this invention provides amethod for treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with acondition that is causally related to abnormal JAK activity as describedherein, and comprises administering an effective condition-treating orcondition-preventing amount of the pharmaceutical composition or thecompound of the invention described herein. In a specific aspect thecondition is causally related to abnormal JAK1 and JAK2 activity.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides the compound of theinvention for use in the treatment or prevention of a condition that iscausally related to abnormal JAK activity.

In additional aspects, this invention provides methods for synthesizingthe compound of the invention, with representative synthetic protocolsand pathways disclosed later on herein.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide anovel compound, which can modify the activity of JAK and thus prevent ortreat any maladies that may be causally related thereto. In a specificaspect the compound of the invention modulates the activity of JAK1 andJAK2.

It is further an object of this invention to provide a compound that cantreat or alleviate maladies or symptoms of same, such as inflammatoryconditions, autoimmune diseases, proliferative diseases, transplantationrejection, diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover,congenital cartilage malformations, and diseases associated withhypersecretion of IL6, that may be causally related to the activity ofJAK, in particular JAK1 and JAK2.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a pharmaceuticalcomposition that may be used in the treatment or prevention of a varietyof disease states, including the diseases associated with JAK activitysuch as inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases, proliferativediseases, transplantation rejection, diseases involving impairment ofcartilage turnover, congenital cartilage malformations, and diseasesassociated with hypersecretion of IL6. In a specific embodiment thedisease is associated with SAK1 and JAK2 activity.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled inthe art from a consideration of the ensuing detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

The following terms are intended to have the meanings presentedtherewith below and are useful in understanding the description andintended scope of the present invention.

When describing the invention, which may include compounds,pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and methods ofusing such compounds and compositions, the following terms, if present,have the following meanings unless otherwise indicated. It should alsobe understood that when described herein any of the moieties definedforth below may be substituted with a variety of substituents, and thatthe respective definitions are intended to include such substitutedmoieties within their scope as set out below. Unless otherwise stated,the term ‘substituted’ is to be defined as set out below. It should befurther understood that the terms ‘groups’ and ‘radicals’ can beconsidered interchangeable when used herein.

The articles ‘a’ and ‘an’ may be used herein to refer to one or to morethan one (i.e. at least one) of the grammatical objects of the article.By way of example “all analogue” means one analogue or more than oneanalogue.

As used herein the term ‘JAK’ relates to the family of Janus kinases(JAKs) which are cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases that transduce cytokinesignaling from membrane receptors to STAT transcription factors. FourJAK family members are described, JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and TYK2 and the termJAK may refer to all the JAK family members collectively or one or moreof the JAK family members as the context indicates.

‘Pharmaceutically acceptable’ means approved or approvable by aregulatory agency of the Federal or a state government or thecorresponding agency in countries other than the United States, or thatis listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia or other generally recognizedpharmacopoeia for use in animals, and more particularly, in humans.

‘Pharmaceutically acceptable salt’ refers to a salt of the compound ofthe invention that is pharmaceutically acceptable and that possesses thedesired pharmacological activity of the parent compound. In particular,such salts are non-toxic may be inorganic or organic acid addition saltsand base addition salts. Specifically, such salts include: (1) acidaddition salts, formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid,hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and thelike; or formed with organic acids such as acetic acid, propionic acid,hexanoic acid, cyclopentanepropionic acid, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid,lactic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, maleic acid,fumaric acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid,3-(4-hydroxybenzoyl) benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid,methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, 1,2-ethane-disulfonic acid,2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid,4-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid, 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid,4-toluenesulfonic acid, camphorsulfonic acid,4-methylbicyclo[2.2.2]-oct-2-ene-1-carboxylic acid, glucoheptonic acid,3-phenylpropionic acid, trimethylacetic acid, tertiary butylacetic acid,lauryl sulfuric acid, gluconic acid, glutamic acid, hydroxynaphthoicacid, salicylic acid, stearic acid, muconic acid, and the like; or (2)salts formed when an acidic proton present in the parent compound eitheris replaced by a metal ion, e.g., an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earthion, or an aluminum ion; or coordinates with an organic base such asethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, N-methylglucamine and thelike. Salts further include, by way of example only, sodium, potassium,calcium, magnesium, ammonium, tetraalkylammonium, and the like; and whenthe compound contains a basic functionality, salts of non toxic organicor inorganic acids, such as hydrochloride, hydrobromide, tartrate,mesylate, acetate, maleate, oxalate and the like. The term‘pharmaceutically acceptable cation’ refers to an acceptable cationiccounter-ion of an acidic functional group. Such cations are exemplifiedby sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonium, tetraalkylammoniumcations, and the like.

‘Pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle’ refers to a diluent, adjuvant,excipient or carrier with which the compound of the invention isadministered.

‘Solvate’ refers to forms of the compound that are associated with asolvent, usually by a solvolysis reaction. This physical associationincludes hydrogen bonding. Conventional solvents include water, ethanol,acetic acid and the like. The compound of the invention may be preparede.g. in crystalline form and may be solvated or hydrated. Suitablesolvates include pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, such as hydrates,and further include both stoichiometric solvates and non-stoichiometricsolvates. In certain instances the solvate will be capable of isolation,for example when one or more solvent molecules are incorporated in thecrystal lattice of the crystalline solid. ‘Solvate’ encompasses bothsolution-phase and isolable solvates. Representative solvates includehydrates, ethanolates and methanolates.

‘Subject’ includes humans. The terms ‘human’, ‘patient’ and ‘subject’are used interchangeably herein.

‘Therapeutically effective amount’ means the amount of a compound that,when administered to a subject for treating a disease, is sufficient toeffect such treatment for the disease. The ‘therapeutically effectiveamount’ can vary depending on the compound, the disease and itsseverity, and the age, weight, etc., of the subject to be treated.

‘Preventing’ or ‘prevention’ refers to a reduction in risk of acquiringor developing a disease or disorder (i.e., causing at least one of theclinical symptoms of the disease not to develop in a subject that may beexposed to a disease-causing agent, or predisposed to the disease inadvance of disease onset).

The term ‘prophylaxis’ is related to ‘prevention’, and refers to ameasure or procedure the purpose of which is to prevent, rather than totreat or cure a disease. Non-limiting examples of prophylactic measuresmay include the administration of vaccines; the administration of lowmolecular weight heparin to hospital patients at risk for thrombosisdue, for example, to immobilization; and the administration of ananti-malarial agent such as chloroquine, in advance of a visit to ageographical region where malaria is endemic or the risk of contractingmalaria is high.

‘Treating’ or ‘treatment’ of any disease or disorder refers, in oneembodiment, to ameliorating the disease or disorder (i.e., arresting thedisease or reducing the manifestation, extent or severity of at leastone of the clinical symptoms thereof). In another embodiment ‘treating’or ‘treatment’ refers to ameliorating at least one physical parameter,which may not be discernible by the subject. In yet another embodiment,‘treating’ or ‘treatment’ refers to modulating the disease or disorder,either physically, (e.g., stabilization of a discernible symptom),physiologically, (e.g., stabilization of a physical parameter), or both.In a further embodiment, ‘treating’ or ‘treatment’ relates to slowingthe progression of the disease.

As used herein the term ‘inflammatory condition(s)’ refers to the groupof conditions including, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, juvenileidiopathic arthritis, psoriasis, allergic airway disease (e.g. asthma,rhinitis), inflammatory bowel diseases (e.g. Crohn's disease, colitis),endotoxin-driven disease states (e.g. complications after bypass surgeryor chronic endotoxin states contributing to e.g. chronic cardiacfailure), and related diseases involving cartilage, such as that of thejoints. Particularly the term refers to rheumatoid arthritis,osteoarthritis, allergic airway disease (e.g. asthma) and inflammatorybowel diseases.

As used herein the term ‘autoimmune disease(s)’ refers to the group ofdiseases including obstructive airways disease, including conditionssuch as COPD, asthma (e.g intrinsic asthma, extrinsic asthma, dustasthma, infantily asthma) particularly chronic or inveterate asthma (forexample late asthma and airway hyperreponsiveness), bronchitis,including bronchial asthma, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiplesclerosis, type I diabetes mellitus and complications associatedtherewith, atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis), contact dermatitis andfurther eczematous dermatitis, inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. Crohn'sdisease and ulcerative colitis), atherosclerosis and amyotrophic lateralsclerosis. Particularly the term refers to COPD, asthma, systemic lupuserythematosis, type I diabetes mellitus and inflammatory bowel disease.

As used herein the term ‘proliferative disease(s)’ refers to conditionssuch as cancer (e.g. uterine leiomyosarcoma or prostate cancer),myeloproliferative disorders (e.g. polycythemia vera, essentialthrombocytosis and myelofibrosis), leukemia (e.g. acute myeloidleukaemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia), multiple myeloma,psoriasis, restenosis, sclerodermitis or fibrosis. In particular theterm refers to cancer, leukemia, multiple myeloma and psoriasis.

As used herein, the term ‘cancer’ refers to a malignant or benign growthof cells in skin or in body organs, for example but without limitation,breast, prostate, lung, kidney, pancreas, stomach or bowel. A cancertends to infiltrate into adjacent tissue and spread (metastasise) todistant organs, for example to bone, liver, lung or the brain. As usedherein the term cancer includes both metastatic tumour cell types, suchas but not limited to, melanoma, lymphoma, leukaemia, fibrosarcoma,rhabdomyosarcoma, and mastocytoma and types of tissue carcinoma, such asbut not limited to, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, small cell lungcancer and non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer,bladder cancer, renal cancer, gastric cancer, glioblastoma, primaryliver cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and uterineleiomyosarcoma.

As used herein the term ‘leukemia’ refers to neoplastic diseases of theblood and blood forming organs. Such diseases can cause bone marrow andimmune system dysfunction, which renders the host highly susceptible toinfection and bleeding. In particular the term leukemia refers to acutemyeloid leukaemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

As used herein the term ‘transplantation rejection’ refers to the acuteor chronic rejection of cells, tissue or solid organ allo- or xenograftsof e.g. pancreatic islets, stem cells, bone marrow, skin, muscle,corneal tissue, neuronal tissue, heart, lung, combined heart-lung,kidney, liver, bowel, pancreas, trachea or oesophagus, orgraft-versus-host diseases.

As used herein the term ‘diseases involving impairment of cartilageturnover’ includes conditions such as osteoarthritis, psoriaticarthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis, septic orinfectious arthritis, reactive arthritis, reflex sympathetic dystrophy,algodystrophy, Tietze syndrome or costal chondritis, fibromyalgia,osteochondritis, neurogenic or neuropathic arthritis, arthropathy,endemic forms of arthritis like osteoarthritis deformans endemica,Mseleni disease and Handigodu disease; degeneration resulting fromfibromyalgia, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and ankylosingspondylitis.

As used herein the term ‘congenital cartilage malformation(s)’ includesconditions such as hereditary chondrolysis, chondrodysplasias andpseudochondrodysplasias, in particular, but without limitation,microtia, anotia, metaphyseal chondrodysplasia, and related disorders.

As used herein the term ‘disease(s) associated with hypersecretion ofIL6’ includes conditions such as Castleman's disease, multiple myeloma,psoriasis, Kaposi's sarcoma and/or mesangial proliferativeglomerulonephritis.

‘Compound of the present invention’, and equivalent expressions, aremeant to embrace the compound of the Formula as hereinbefore described,which expression includes the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and thesolvates, e.g., hydrates, and the solvates of the pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts where the context so permits. Similarly, reference tointermediates, whether or not they themselves are claimed, is meant toembrace their salts, and solvates, where the context so permits.

Other derivatives of the compound of this invention have activity inboth their acid and acid derivative forms, but in the acid sensitiveform often offers advantages of solubility, tissue compatibility, ordelayed release in the mammalian organism (see, Bundgard, H., Design ofProdrugs, pp. 7-9, 21-24, Elsevier, Amsterdam 1985).

As used herein, the term ‘isotopic variant’ refers to a compound thatcontains unnatural proportions of isotopes at one or more of the atomsthat constitute such compound. For example, an ‘isotopic variant’ of acompound can contain one or more non-radioactive isotopes, such as forexample, deuterium (²H or D), carbon-13 (¹³C), nitrogen-15 (¹⁵N), or thelike. It will be understood that, in a compound where such isotopicsubstitution is made, the following atoms, where present, may vary, sothat for example, any hydrogen may be ²H/D, any carbon may be ¹³C, orany nitrogen may be ¹⁵N, and that the presence and placement of suchatoms may be determined within the skill of the art. Likewise, theinvention may include the preparation of isotopic variants withradioisotopes, in the instance for example, where the resultingcompounds may be used for drug and/or substrate tissue distributionstudies. The radioactive isotopes tritium, i.e. ³H, and carbon-14, i.e.¹⁴C, are particularly useful for this purpose in view of their ease ofincorporation and ready means of detection. Further, compounds may beprepared that are substituted with positron emitting isotopes, such as¹¹C, ¹⁵O and ¹³N, and would be useful in Positron Emission Topography(PET) studies for examining substrate receptor occupancy.

All isotopic variants of the compound provided herein, radioactive ornot, arc intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention.

‘Tautomers’ refer to compounds that are interchangeable forms of aparticular compound structure, and that vary in the displacement ofhydrogen atoms and electrons. Thus, two structures may be in equilibriumthrough the movement of π electrons and an atom (usually H). Forexample, enols and ketones are tautomers because they are rapidlyinterconverted by treatment with either acid or base. Another example oftautomerism is the aci- and nitro-forms of phenylnitromethane, that arelikewise formed by treatment with acid or base.

Tautomeric forms may be relevant to the attainment of the optimalchemical reactivity and biological activity of a compound of interest.

The Compound

The present invention is based on the discovery that the compound of theinvention is an inhibitor of JAK and that it is useful for the treatmentof inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases, proliferative diseases,transplantation rejection, diseases involving impairment of cartilageturnover, congenital cartilage malformations, and diseases associatedwith hypersecretion of IL6. The present invention also provides methodsfor the production of the compound of the invention, pharmaceuticalcompositions comprising the compound of the invention and methods fortreating inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases, proliferativediseases, transplantation rejection, diseases involving impairment ofcartilage turnover, congenital cartilage malformations, and diseasesassociated with hypersecretion of IL6 by administering the compound ofthe invention. In a specific embodiment the compound of the invention isan inhibitor of JAK1 and JAK2.

Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention, compound of theinvention is disclosed having a formula (I):

In one embodiment the compound of the invention is not an isotopicvariant.

The compound of the invention is a novel inhibitor of JAK. In particularthe compound is a potent inhibitor of JAK1 and JAK2, however it doesinhibit TYK2 and JAK3 with a lower potency.

The compound of the invention exhibits a dramatically improved in vivopotency. This improvements are specifically and surprisingly seen evenover structurally similar compounds. The use of a compound with theseimprovements may result in a lower dosage requirement (and therefore animproved dosing schedule).

Pharmaceutical Compositions

When employed as a pharmaceutical, the compound of this invention istypically administered in the form of a pharmaceutical composition. Suchcompositions can be prepared in a manner well known in thepharmaceutical art and comprise at least one active compound. Generally,the compound of this invention is administered in a pharmaceuticallyeffective amount. The amount of the compound actually administered willtypically be determined by a physician, in the light of the relevantcircumstances, including the condition to be treated, the chosen routeof administration, the actual compound administered, the age, weight,and response of the individual patient, the severity of the patient'ssymptoms, and the like.

The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention can be administered bya variety of routes including oral, rectal, transdermal, subcutaneous,intra-articular, intravenous, intramuscular, and intranasal. Dependingon the intended route of delivery, the compound of this invention ispreferably formulated as either injectable or oral compositions or assalves, as lotions or as patches all for transdermal administration.

The compositions for oral administration can take the form of bulkliquid solutions or suspensions, or bulk powders. More commonly,however, the compositions arc presented in unit dosage forms tofacilitate accurate dosing. The term ‘unit dosage forms’ refers tophysically discrete units suitable as unitary dosages for human subjectsand other mammals, each unit containing a predetermined quantity ofactive material calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect, inassociation with a suitable pharmaceutical excipient, vehicle orcarrier. Typical unit dosage forms include prefilled, premeasuredampules or syringes of the liquid compositions or pills, tablets,capsules or the like in the case of solid compositions. In suchcompositions, the compound of the invention is usually a minor component(from about 0.1 to about 50% by weight or preferably from about 1 toabout 40% by weight) with the remainder being various vehicles orcarriers and processing aids helpful for forming the desired dosingform.

Liquid forms suitable for oral administration may include a suitableaqueous or nonaqueous vehicle with buffers, suspending and dispensingagents, colorants, flavors and the like. Solid forms may include, forexample, any of the following ingredients, or compounds of a similarnature: a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth orgelatin; an excipient such as starch or lactose, a disintegrating agentsuch as alginic acid, Primogel, or corn starch; a lubricant such asmagnesium stearate; a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; asweetening agent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent suchas peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring.

Injectable compositions are typically based upon injectable sterilesaline or phosphate-buffered saline or other injectable carriers knownin the art. As before, the active compound in such compositions istypically a minor component, often being from about 0.05 to 10% byweight with the remainder being the injectable carrier and the like.

Transdermal compositions are typically formulated as a topical ointmentor cream containing the active ingredient(s), generally in an amountranging from about 0.01 to about 20% by weight, preferably from about0.1 to about 20% by weight, preferably from about 0.1 to about 10% byweight, and more preferably from about 0.5 to about 15% by weight. Whenformulated as a ointment, the active ingredients will typically becombined with either a paraffinic or a water-miscible ointment base.Alternatively, the active ingredients may be formulated in a cream with,for example an oil-in-water cream base. Such transdermal formulationsare well-known in the art and generally include additional ingredientsto enhance the dermal penetration of stability of the active ingredientsor the formulation. All such known transdermal formulations andingredients are included within the scope of this invention.

The compound of the invention can also be administered by a transdermaldevice. Accordingly, transdermal administration can be accomplishedusing a patch either of the reservoir or porous membrane type, or of asolid matrix variety.

The above-described components for orally administrable, injectable ortopically administrable compositions arc merely representative. Othermaterials as well as processing techniques and the like are set forth inPart 8 of Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17th edition, 1985, MackPublishing Company, Easton, Pa., which is incorporated herein byreference.

The compound of the invention can also be administered in sustainedrelease forms or from sustained release drug delivery systems. Adescription of representative sustained release materials can be foundin Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The following formulation examples illustrate representativepharmaceutical compositions that may be prepared in accordance with thisinvention. The present invention, however, is not limited to thefollowing pharmaceutical compositions.

Formulation 1—Tablets

The compound of the invention may be admixed as a dry powder with a drygelatin binder in an approximate 1:2 weight ratio. A minor amount ofmagnesium stearate may be added as a lubricant. The mixture may beformed into 240-270 mg tablets (80-90 mg of active amide compound pertablet) in a tablet press.

Formulation 2—Capsules

The compound of the invention may be admixed as a dry powder with astarch diluent in an approximate 1:1 weight ratio. The mixture may befilled into 250 mg capsules (125 mg of active amide compound percapsule).

Formulation 3—Liquid

The compound of the invention (125 mg), may be admixed with sucrose(1.75 g) and xanthan gum (4 mg) and the resultant mixture may beblended, passed through a No. 10 mesh U.S. sieve, and then mixed with apreviously made solution of microcrystalline cellulose and sodiumcarboxymethyl cellulose (11:89, 50 mg) in water. Sodium benzoate (10mg), flavor, and color may be diluted with water and added withstirring. Sufficient water may then be added with stirring. Furthersufficient water may be then added to produce a total volume of 5 mL.

Formulation 4—Tablets

The compound of the invention may be admixed as a dry powder with a drygelatin binder in an approximate 1:2 weight ratio. A minor amount ofmagnesium stearate may be added as a lubricant. The mixture may beformed into 450-900 mg tablets (150-300 mg of active amide compound) ina tablet press.

Formulation 5—Injection

The compound of the invention may be dissolved or suspended in abuffered sterile saline injectable aqueous medium to a concentration ofapproximately 5 mg/mL.

Formulation 6—Topical

Stearyl alcohol (250 g) and a white petrolatum (250 g) may be melted atabout 75° C. and then a mixture of the compound of the invention (50 g)methylparaben (0.25 g), propylparaben (0.15 g), sodium lauryl sulfate(10 g), and propylene glycol (120 g) dissolved in water (about 370 g)may be added and the resulting mixture may be stirred until it congeals.

Methods of Treatment

The compound of the invention may be used as a therapeutic agent for thetreatment of conditions in mammals that are causally related orattributable to aberrant activity of JAK. In particular, conditionsrelated to aberrant activity of JAK1 and/or JAK2. Accordingly, thecompound and pharmaceutical compositions of the invention find use astherapeutics for preventing and/or treating inflammatory conditions,autoimmune diseases, proliferative diseases, transplantation rejection,diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover, congenitalcartilage malformations, and diseases associated with hypersecretion ofIL6 in mammals including humans.

In additional method of treatment aspects, this invention providesmethods of treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with aninflammatory condition. The methods comprise administering an effectivecondition-treating or condition-preventing amount of one or more of thepharmaceutical compositions or compound of the invention hereindescribed. In a specific embodiment, the inflammatory condition isselected from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, allergic airwaydisease (e.g. asthma) and inflammatory bowel diseases.

In another aspect the present invention provides the compound of theinvention for use in the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of aninflammatory condition. In a specific embodiment, the inflammatorycondition is selected from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis,allergic airway disease (e.g. asthma) and inflammatory bowel diseases.

In additional method of treatment aspects, this invention providesmethods of treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with anautoimmune disease. The methods comprise administering an effectivecondition-treating or condition-preventing amount of one or more of thepharmaceutical compositions or compound of the invention hereindescribed. In a specific embodiment, the autoimmune disease is selectedfrom COPD, asthma, systemic lupus erythematosis, type I diabetesmellitus and inflammatory bowel disease.

In another aspect the present invention provides the compound of theinvention for use in the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of anautoimmune disease. In a specific embodiment, the autoimmune disease isselected from COPD, asthma, systemic lupus erythematosis, type Idiabetes mellitus and inflammatory bowel disease.

In further method of treatment aspects, this invention provides methodsof treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with a proliferativedisease, in particular cancer (e.g. solid tumors such as uterineleiomyosarcoma or prostate cancer), leukemia (e.g. AML or ALL), multiplemyeloma and/or psoriasis.

In another aspect the present invention provides the compound of theinvention for use in the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of aproliferative disease, in particular cancer (e.g. solid tumors such asuterine leiomyosarcoma or prostate cancer), leukemia (e.g. AML or ALL),multiple myeloma and/or psoriasis.

In further method of treatment aspects, this invention provides methodsof treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with transplantationrejection. In a specific embodiment, the invention provides methods oftreating organ transplant rejection.

In another aspect the present invention provides the compound of theinvention for use in the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis oftransplantation rejection In a specific embodiment, the inventionprovides methods of treating organ transplant rejection.

In a method of treatment aspect, this invention provides a method oftreatment, prevention or prophylaxis in a mammal susceptible to orafflicted with diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover,which method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amountof the compound of the invention, or one or more of the pharmaceuticalcompositions herein described.

In another aspect the present invention provides the compound of theinvention for use in the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis ofdiseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover.

The present invention also provides a method of treatment of congenitalcartilage malformations, which method comprises administering aneffective amount of one or more of the pharmaceutical compositions orthe compound of the invention herein described.

In another aspect the present invention provides the compound of theinvention for use in the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis ofcongenital cartilage malformations.

In further method of treatment aspects, this invention provides methodsof treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with diseasesassociated with hypersecretion of IL6, in particular Castleman's diseaseor mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis.

In another aspect the present invention provides the compound of theinvention for use in the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis ofdiseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6, in particularCastleman's disease or mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis.

As a further aspect of the invention there is provided the compound ofthe invention for use as a pharmaceutical especially in the treatment orprevention of the aforementioned conditions and diseases. Also providedherein is the use of the present compounds in the manufacture of amedicament for the treatment or prevention of one of the aforementionedconditions and diseases.

A particular regimen of the present method comprises the administrationto a subject suffering from a disease involving inflammation, of aneffective amount of a compound of the invention for a period of timesufficient to reduce the level of inflammation in the subject, andpreferably terminate the processes responsible for said inflammation. Aspecial embodiment of the method comprises administering of an effectiveamount of the compound of the invention to a subject patient sufferingfrom or susceptible to the development of rheumatoid arthritis, for aperiod of time sufficient to reduce or prevent, respectively,inflammation in the joints of said patient, and preferably terminate,the processes responsible for said inflammation.

A further particular regimen of the present method comprises theadministration to a subject suffering from a disease conditioncharacterized by cartilage or joint degradation (e.g. rheumatoidarthritis and/or osteoarthritis) of an effective amount of the compoundof the invention for a period of time sufficient to reduce andpreferably terminate the self-perpetuating processes responsible forsaid degradation. A particular embodiment of the method comprisesadministering of an effective amount of the compound of the invention toa subject patient suffering from or susceptible to the development ofosteoarthritis, for a period of time sufficient to reduce or prevent,respectively, cartilage degradation in the joints of said patient, andpreferably terminate, the self-perpetuating processes responsible forsaid degradation. In a particular embodiment said compound may exhibitcartilage anabolic and/or anti-catabolic properties.

Injection dose levels range from about 0.1 mg/kg/hour to at least 10mg/kg/hour, all for from about 1 to about 120 hours and especially 24 to96 hours. A preloading bolus of from about 0.1 mg/kg to about 10 mg/kgor more may also be administered to achieve adequate steady statelevels. The maximum total dose is not expected to exceed about 2 g/dayfor a 40 to 80 kg human patient.

For the prevention and/or treatment of long-term conditions, such asdegenerative conditions, the regimen for treatment usually stretchesover many months or years so oral dosing is preferred for patientconvenience and tolerance. With oral dosing, one to five and especiallytwo to four and typically three oral doses per day are representativeregimens. Using these dosing patterns, each dose provides from about0.01 to about 20 mg/kg of the compound of the invention, with particulardoses each providing from about 0.1 to about 10 mg/kg and especiallyabout 1 to about 5 mg/kg.

Transdermal doses are generally selected to provide similar or lowerblood levels than are achieved using injection doses.

When used to prevent the onset of an inflammatory condition, thecompound of the invention will be administered to a patient at risk fordeveloping the condition, typically on the advice and under thesupervision of a physician, at the dosage levels described above.Patients at risk for developing a particular condition generally includethose that have a family history of the condition, or those who havebeen identified by genetic testing or screening to be particularlysusceptible to developing the condition.

The compound of the invention can be administered as the sole activeagent or it can be administered in combination with other therapeuticagents, including other compounds that demonstrate the same or a similartherapeutic activity, and that are determined to safe and efficaciousfor such combined administration. In a specific embodiment,co-administration of two (or more) agents allows for significantly lowerdoses of each to be used, thereby reducing the side effects seen.

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered withanother therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention of adisease involving inflammation; particular agents include, but are notlimited to, immunoregulatory agents e.g. azathioprine, corticosteroids(e.g. prednisolone or dexamethasone), cyclophosphamide, cyclosporin A,tacrolimus, Mycophenolate Mofetil, muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, e.g.Orthocolone®), ATG, aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, andpiroxicam.

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered withanother therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention ofarthritis (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis); particular agents include but arenot limited to analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDS), steroids, synthetic DMARDS (for example but without limitationmethotrexate, leflunomide, sulfasalazine, auranofin, sodiumaurothiomalate, penicillamine, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine,azathioprine, and ciclosporin), and biological DMARDS (for example butwithout limitation Infliximab, Etancrccpt, Adalimumab, Rituximab, andAbatacept).

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered withanother therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention ofproliferative disorders; particular agents include but are not limitedto: methotrexate, leukovorin, adriamycin, prenisone, bleomycin,cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, paclitaxel, docetaxel, vincristine,vinblastine, vinorelbine, doxorubicin, tamoxifen, toremifene, megestrolacetate, anastrozole, goserelin, anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody (e.g.Herceptin™), capecitabine, raloxifene hydrochloride, EGFR inhibitors(e.g. Lressa®, Tarccva™, Erbitux™), VEGF inhibitors (e.g. Avastin™),proteasome inhibitors (e.g. Velcade™), Glivec® and hsp90 inhibitors(e.g. 17-AAG). Additionally, a compound of the invention may beadministered in combination with other therapies including, but notlimited to, radiotherapy or surgery. In a specific embodiment theproliferative disorder is selected from cancer, myeloproliferativedisease or leukaemia.

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered withanother therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention ofautoimmune diseases, particular agents include but are not limited to:glucocorticoids, cytostatic agents (e.g. purine analogs), alkylatingagents, (e.g nitrogen mustards (cyclophosphamide), nitrosoureas,platinum compounds, and others), antimetabolites (e.g. methotrexate,azathioprine and mercaptopurine), cytotoxic antibiotics (e.g.dactinomycin anthracyclines, mitomycin C, bleomycin, and mithramycin),antibodies (e.g., anti-CD20, anti-CD25 or anti-CD3 (OTK3) monoclonalantibodies, Atgam® and Thymoglobuline®), cyclosporin, tacrolimus,rapamycin (sirolimus), interferons (e.g. IFN-β), TNF binding proteins(e.g. infliximab (Remicade™), etanercept (Enbrel™), or adalimumab(Humira™)), mycophenolate, Fingolimod and Myriocin.

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered withanother therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention oftransplantation rejection, particular agents include but are not limitedto: calcineurin inhibitors (e.g. cyclosporin or tacrolimus (FK506)),mTOR inhibitors (e.g. sirolimus, everolimus), anti-proliferatives (e.g.azathioprine, mycophenolic acid), corticosteroids (e.g. prednisolone,hydrocortisone), Antibodies (e.g. monoclonal anti-IL-2Rα receptorantibodies, basiliximab, daclizumab), polyclonal anti-T-cell antibodies(e.g. anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), anti-lymphocyte globulin (ALG)).

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered withanother therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention of Asthmaand/or Rhinitis and/or COPD, particular agents include but are notlimited to: beta₂-adrenoceptor agonists (e.g. salbutamol, levalbuterol,terbutaline and bitolterol), epinephrine (inhaled or tablets),anticholinergics (e.g. ipratropium bromide), glucocorticoids (oral orinhaled) Long-acting β₂-agonists (e.g. salmeterol, formoterol,bambuterol, and sustained-release oral albuterol), combinations ofinhaled steroids and long-acting bronchodilators (e.g.fluticasone/salmeterol, budesonide/formoterol), leukotriene antagonistsand synthesis inhibitors (e.g. montclukast, zafirlukast and zilcuton),inhibitors of mediator release (e.g. cromoglycate and ketotifen),biological regulators of IgE response (e.g. omalizumab), antihistamines(e.g. cetcrizinc, cinnarizinc, fexofenadine) and vasoconstrictors (e.g.oxymethazoline, xylomethazoline, nafazoline and tramazoline).

Additionally, a compound of the invention may be administered incombination with emergency therapies for asthma and/or COPD, suchtherapies include oxygen or heliox administration, nebulized salbutamolor terbutaline (optionally combined with an anticholinergic (e.g.ipratropium), systemic steroids (oral or intravenous, e.g. prednisone,prednisolone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, or hydrocortisone),intravenous salbutamol, non-specific beta-agonists, injected or inhaled(e.g. epinephrine, isoetharine, isoproterenol, metaproterenol),anticholinergics (IV or nebulized, e.g. glycopyrrolate, atropine,ipratropium), methylxanthines (theophylline, aminophylline,bamiphylline), inhalation anesthetics that have a bronchodilatory effect(e.g. isoflurane, halothane, enflurane), ketamine and intravenousmagnesium sulfate.

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered withanother therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention of IBD,particular agents include but are not limited to: glucocorticoids (e.g.prednisone, budesonide) synthetic disease modifying, immunomodulatoryagents (e.g. methotrexate, leflunomide, sulfasalazine, mesalazine,azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine and ciclosporin) and biological diseasemodifying, immunomodulatory agents (infliximab, adalimumab, rituximab,and abatacept).

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered withanother therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention of SLE,particular agents include but are not limited to: Disease-modifyingantirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as antimalarials (e.g. plaquenil,hydroxychloroquine), immunosuppressants (e.g. methotrexate andazathioprine), cyclophosphamide and mycophenolic acid; immunosuppressivedrugs and analgesics, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,opiates (e.g. dextropropoxyphene and co-codamol), opioids (e.g.hydrocodone, oxycodone, MS Contin, or methadone) and the fentanylduragesic transdermal patch.

In one embodiment, the compound of the invention is co-administered withanother therapeutic agent for the treatment and/or prevention ofpsoriasis, particular agents include but are not limited to: topicaltreatments such as bath solutions, moisturizers, medicated creams andointments containing coal tar, dithranol (anthralin), corticosteroidslike desoximetasone (Topicort™), fluocinonide, vitamin D₃ analogues (forexample, calcipotriol), Argan oiland retinoids (etretinate, acitretin,tazarotene), systemic treatments such as methotrexate, cyclosporine,retinoids, tioguanine, hydroxyurea, sulfasalazine, mycophenolatemofetil, azathioprine, tacrolimus, fumaric acid esters or biologics suchas Amevive™ Enbrel™, Humira™, Remicade™, Raptiva™ and ustekinumab (aIL-12 and IL-23 blocker). Additionally, a compound of the invention maybe administered in combination with other therapies including, but notlimited to phototherapy, or photochemotherapy (e.g. psoralen andultraviolet A phototherapy (PUVA)).

By co-administration is included any means of delivering two or moretherapeutic agents to the patient as part of the same treatment regime,as will be apparent to the skilled person. Whilst the two or more agentsmay be administered simultaneously in a single formulation this is notessential. The agents may be administered in different formulations andat different times.

GENERAL SYNTHETIC PROCEDURES General

The compound of the invention and the comparative examples disclosed inWO2010010190 can be prepared from readily available starting materialsusing the following general methods and procedures. It will beappreciated that where typical or preferred process conditions (i.e.,reaction temperatures, times, mole ratios of reactants, solvents,pressures, etc.) are given, other process conditions can also be usedunless otherwise stated. Optimum reaction conditions may vary with theparticular reactants or solvent used, but such conditions can bedetermined by one skilled in the art by routine optimization procedures.

Additionally, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art,conventional protecting groups may be necessary to prevent certainfunctional groups from undergoing undesired reactions. The choice of asuitable protecting group for a particular functional group as well assuitable conditions for protection and deprotection are well known inthe art. For example, numerous protecting groups, and their introductionand removal, are described in T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, ProtectingGroups in Organic Synthesis, Second Edition, Wiley, New York, 1991, andreferences cited therein.

The following methods are presented with details as to the preparationof the compound of the invention as defined hereinabove and thecomparative examples. The compound of the invention and the comparativeexamples may be prepared from known or commercially available startingmaterials and reagents by one skilled in the art of organic synthesis.

All reagents were of commercial grade and were used as received withoutfurther purification, unless otherwise stated. Commercially availableanhydrous solvents were used for reactions conducted under inertatmosphere. Reagent grade solvents were used in all other cases, unlessotherwise specified. Column chromatography was performed on silica gel60 (35-70 μm). Thin layer chromatography was carried out usingpre-coated silica gel F-254 plates (thickness 0.25 mm). ¹H NMR spectrawere recorded on a Bruker DPX 400 NMR spectrometer (400 MHz). Chemicalshifts (6) for ¹H NMR spectra are reported in parts per million (ppm)relative to tetramethylsilane (δ 0.00) or the appropriate residualsolvent peak, i.e. CHCl₃ (δ 7.27), as internal reference. Multiplicitiesare given as singlet (s), doublet (d), triplet (t), quartet (q),multiplet (m) and broad (br). Coupling constants (J) are given in Hz.Electrospray MS spectra were obtained on a Micromass platform LC/MSspectrometer. Column Used for all LCMS analysis: Waters Acquity UPLC BEHC18 1.7 μm, 2.1 mm ID×50 mm L (Part No. 186002350)). Preparative HPLC:Waters XBridge Prep C18 5 μm ODB 19 mm ID×100 mm L (Part No. 186002978).All the methods are using MeCN/H₂O gradients. H₂O contains either 0.1%TFA or 0.1% NH₃.

List of abbreviations used in the experimental section:

-   -   DCM: Dichloromethane    -   DiPEA: N,N-diisopropylethylamine    -   MeCN Acetonitrile    -   BOC tert-Butyloxy-carbonyl    -   DMF N,N-dimethylformamide    -   TFA Trifluoroacetic acid    -   THF Tetrahydrofuran    -   NMR Nuclear Magnetic Resonance    -   DMSO Dimethylsulfoxide    -   DPPA Diphenylphosphorylazide    -   LC-MS Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry    -   Ppm parts-per-million    -   EtOAc ethyl acetate    -   APCI atmospheric pressure chemical ionization    -   Rt retention time    -   s singlet    -   br s broad singlet    -   m multiplet    -   d doublet    -   PdCl₂dppf        [1,1′-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II)    -   TEA Triethylamine

Synthetic Preparation of the Compound of the Invention and ComparativeExamples

The compound of the invention and the comparative examples can beproduced according to the following scheme.

General Synthetic Method

wherein Ar represents phenyl-L1-heterocycloalkyl, where L1 is a bond,—CH₂— or —CO— and the heterocycloalkyl group is optionally substituted.

General 1.1.1 1-(6-Bromo-pyridin-2-yl)-3-carboethoxy-thiourea (2)

To a solution of 2-amino-6-bromopyridine (1) (253.8 g, 1.467 mol) in DCM(2.5 L) cooled to 5° C. is added ethoxycarbonyl isothiocyanate (173.0mL, 1.467 mol) dropwise over 15 min. The reaction mixture is thenallowed to warm to room temp. (20° C.) and stirred for 16 h. Evaporationin vacuo gives a solid which may be collected by filtration, thoroughlywashed with petrol (3×600 mL) and air-dried to afford (2). The thioureamay be used as such for the next step without any purification. ¹H (400MHz, CDCl₃) δ 12.03 (1H, br s, NH), 8.81 (1H, d, J 7.8 Hz, H-3), 8.15(1H, br s, NH), 7.60 (1H, t, J 8.0 Hz, H-4), 7.32 (1H, dd, J 7.7 and 0.6Hz, H-5), 4.31 (2H, q, J 7.1 Hz, CH₂), 1.35 (3H, t, J 7.1 Hz, CH₃).

1.1.2 5-Bromo-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-ylamine (3)

To a suspension of hydroxylamine hydrochloride (101.8 g, 1.465 mol) inEtOH/MeOH (1:1, 900 mL) is added N,N-diisopropylethylamine (145.3 mL,0.879 mol) and the mixture is stirred at room temp. (20° C.) for 1 h.1-(6-Bromo-pyridin-2-yl)-3-carboethoxy-thiourea (2) (89.0 g, 0.293 mol)is then added and the mixture slowly heated to reflux (Note: bleachscrubber is required to quench H₂S evolved). After 3 h at reflux, themixture is allowed to cool and filtered to collect the precipitatedsolid. Further product is collected by evaporation in vacuo of thefiltrate, addition of H₂O (250 mL) and filtration. The combined solidsare washed successively with H₂O (250 mL), EtOH/MeOH (1:1, 250 mL) andEt₂O (250 mL) then dried in vacuo to afford the triazolopyridinederivative (3) as a solid. The compound may be used as such for the nextstep without any purification. ¹H (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.43-7.34 (2H, m,2× aromatic-H), 7.24 (1H, dd, J 6.8 and 1.8 Hz, aromatic-H), 6.30 (2H,br, NH₂); m/z 213/215 (1:1, M+H⁺, 100%).

1.1.3 General Procedure for Mono-Acylation to Afford Intermediate (4)

To a solution of the 2-amino-triazolopyridine (3) (7.10 g, 33.3 mmol) indry CH₃CN (150 mL) at 5° C. is added Et₃N (11.6 mL, 83.3 mmol) followedby cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride (83.3 mmol). The reaction mixture isthen allowed to warm to ambient temperature and stirred until allstarting material (3) is consumed. If required, further Et₃N (4.64 mL,33.3 mmol) and cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride (33.3 mmol) is added toensure complete reaction. Following solvent evaporation in vacuo theresultant residue is treated with 7 N methanolic ammonia solution (50mL) and stirred at ambient temp. (for 1-16 h) to hydrolyse anybis-acylated product. Product isolation is made by removal of volatilesin vacuo followed by trituration with Et₂O (50 mL). The solids arccollected by filtration, washed with H₂O (2×50 mL), acetone (50 mL) andEt₂O (50 mL), then dried in vacuo to give the required bromointermediate (4).

Method A Preparation of Compounds of the Invention Via Suzuki Coupling(5)

An appropriate boronic acid (2 eq.) is added to a solution of bromointermediate (4) in 1,4-dioxane/water (5:1). K₂CO₃ (2 eq.) and PdCl₂dppf(5%) are added to the solution. The resulting mixture is then heated ina microwave at 140° C. for 30 min (this reaction can also be carried outby traditional heating in an oil bath at 90° C. for 16 h under N₂).Water is added and the solution is extracted with ethyl acetate. Theorganic layers are dried over anhyd. MgSO₄ and evaporated in vacuo. Thefinal compound is obtained after purification by flash chromatography orpreparative HPLC. HPLC: Waters XBridge Prep C18 5 μm ODB 19 mm ID×100 mmL (Part No. 186002978). All the methods arc using MeCN/H₂O gradients.H₂O contains either 0.1% TFA or 0.1% NH₃.

B1. 44-[2-(Cyclopropanecarbonyl-amino)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-5-yl]-benzoylchloride

2 Drops of DMF are added to a solution of4-[2-(cyclopropanecarbonyl-amino)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-5-yl]-benzoicacid (1 eq) obtained by Method A using 4-carboxyphenylboronic acid inDCM under N₂ atmosphere. Then oxalyl chloride (2 eq) is added dropwiseto this resulting solution (gas release). The mixture is stirred at roomtemperature for 2 hours. After completion of the reaction by LCMS, thesolvent is removed. The crude acid chloride is used without furtherpurification in next step.

B2. Amide Formation (General Method)

An appropriate amine (1.1 eq) and Et₃N (5 eq) are dissolved in DCM underN₂ atmosphere and cooled at 0° C. The acid chloride (B1, 1 eq) dissolvedin DCM is added dropwise to this solution. The reaction is stirred atroom temperature for 16 h. After this time, reaction is complete. Thecompound is extracted with EtOAc and water, washed with brine and driedover anhyd. MgSO₄. Organic layers are filtered and evaporated. The finalcompound is isolated by preparative HPLC. Preparative HPLC: WatersXBridge Prep C18 5 μm ODB 19 mm ID×100 mm L (Part No. 186002978). Allthe methods are using MeCN/H₂O gradients. H₂O contains either 0.1% TFAor 0.1% NH₃.

Wherein R^(3a) or R^(3b) together with the nitrogen atom to which theyare attached, may form a heterocycloalkyl.

Reductive Alkylation (General Method)

An appropriate amine (2 eq.), cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (for examplecyclopropanecarboxylic acid[5-(4-formyl-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine-2-yl]-amide)prepared by method A (1 eq.) and Ti(OPr)₄ are mixed and stirred at roomtemperature for 3 hrs. The mixture is diluted in ethanol and Na(CN)BH₃(1 eq.) is added. The resulting solution is stirred at room temperaturefor 16 hrs. The mixture is diluted in water and filtered. The filtrateis washed with ethanol. The combined solvent phases are evaporated undervacuum. The final compound is isolated by preparative HPLC.

wherein R¹ and R² together with the Nitrogen atom to which they areattached, may form a heterocycloalkyl.

Reaction of Alkylation

2-(4-Bromomethyl-phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolane (1 eq)and Et₃N (2 eq) (or AgCO₃) are dissolved in DCM/MeOH (4:1 v:v) under N₂and an amine (2 eq) is added dropwise. The resulting solution is stirredat room temperature for 16 h. After this time, the reaction is complete.The solvent is evaporated. The compound is extracted with EtOAc andwater, washed with brine and dried over anhyd. MgSO₄. Organic layers arefiltered and evaporated. The final compound is isolated by flashchromatography.

Suzuki Coupling

The obtained boronic acid (2 eq.) is added to a solution ofcyclopropanecarboxylic acid(5-bromo-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl)-amide (4) in1,4-dioxane/water (5:1). K₂CO₃ (2 eq.) and PdCl₂dppf (5%) are added tothe solution. The resulting mixture is then heated in a microwave at140° C. for 30 min (This reaction can also be carried out by traditionalheating in an oil bath at 90° C. for 16 h under N₂). Water is added andthe solution is extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layers aredried over anhyd. MgSO₄ and evaporated in vacuo. The final compound isobtained after purification by flash chromatography or preparative HPLC.HPLC: Waters XBridge Prep C18 5 μm ODB 19 mm ID×100 mm L (Part No.186002978). All the methods arc using MeCN/H₂O gradients. H₂O containseither 0.1% TFA or 0.1% NH₃.

Synthesis of the Compound of the Invention and Comparative ExamplesCompound 1 (the Compound of the Invention) Step 1

2-(4-Bromomethyl-phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolane (1 eq)and DIPEA (2 eq) were dissolved in DCM/MeOH (5:1 v:v) under N₂ andthiomorpholine 1,1-dioxide (2 eq) was added portionwise. The resultingsolution was stirred at room temperature for 16 h. After this time, thereaction was complete. The solvent was evaporated. The compound wasextracted with EtOAc and water, washed with brine and dried over anhyd.MgSO₄. Organic layers were filtered and evaporated. The final compoundwas isolated without further purification.

Step 2: Suzuki Coupling

4-[4-(4,4,5,5-Tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-benzyl]-thiomorpholine-1,1-dioxide(1.1 eq.) was added to a solution of cyclopropanecarboxylic acid(5-bromo-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl)-amide in 1,4-dioxane/water(4:1). K₂CO₃ (2 eq.) and PdCl₂dppf (0.03 eq.) were added to thesolution. The resulting mixture was then heated in an oil bath at 90° C.for 16 h under N₂. Water was added and the solution was extracted withethyl acetate. The organic layers were dried over anhyd. MgSO₄ andevaporated in vacuo. The final compound was obtained after purificationby flash chromatography.

Alternatively, after completion of the reaction, a palladium scavengersuch as 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, is added, the reaction mixtureis allowed to cooled down and a filtration is performed. The filter cakeis reslurried in a suitable solvent (e.g. acetone), the solid isseparated by filtration, washed with more acetone, and dried. Theresulting solid is resuspended in water, aqueous HCl is added, and afterstirring at RT, the resulting solution is filtered on celite (CelpureP300). Aqueous NaOH is then added to the filtrate, and the resultingsuspension is stirred at RT, the solid is separated by filtration,washed with water and dried by suction. Finally the cake isre-solubilised in a mixture of THF/H₂O, treated with a palladiumscavenger (e.g. SMOPEX 234) at 50° C., the suspension is filtered, theorganic solvents arc removed by evaporation, and the resulting slurry iswashed with water and methanol, dried and sieved, to obtain the titlecompound as a free base.

Alternative Route to Compound 1 (the Compound of the Invention) Step 1

4-(Hydroxymethyl)phenylboronic acid (1.1 eq.) was added to a solution ofcyclopropanecarboxylic acid(5-bromo-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl)-amide in 1,4-dioxane/water(4:1). K₂CO₃ (2 eq.) and PdCl₂dppf (0.03 eq.) were added to thesolution. The resulting mixture was then heated in an oil bath at 90° C.for 16 h under N₂. Water was added and the solution was extracted withethyl acetate. The organic layers were dried over anhyd. MgSO₄ andevaporated in vacuo. The resulting mixture was used without furtherpurification.

Step 2

To a solution of cyclopropanecarboxylic acid[5-(4-hydroxymethyl-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl]-amide(1.0 eq) in chloroform was slowly added phosphorus tribromide (1.0equiv.). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 20hours, quenched with ice and water (20 mL) and extracted withdichloromethane. The organic layer was dried over anhyd. MgSO₄, filteredand concentrated to dryness. The resulting white residue was trituratedin dichloromethane/diethyl ether 2:1 to afford the expected product as awhite solid.

Step 3

Cyclopropanccarboxylic acid[5-(4-bromomethyl-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl]-amide (1eq) and DIPEA (2 eq) were dissolved in DCM/MeOH (5:1 v:v) under N₂ andthiomorpholine 1,1-dioxide (1.1 eq) was added dropwise. The resultingsolution was stirred at room temperature for 16 h. After this time, thereaction was complete. The solvent was evaporated. The compound wasdissolved in DCM, washed with water and dried over anhyd. MgSO₄. Organiclayers were filtered and evaporated. The final compound was isolated bycolumn chromatography using EtOAc to afford the desired product.

Comparative Examples Compound 2

This compound was made using General Method A and4-[4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-benzyl]-morpholine.

Compound 3

This compound was made using General Method A and3-(4-morpholinomethyl)-phenylboronic acid pinacol ester hydrochloride.

Compound 4

This compound was made using General Method A and2-(4-morpholino)pyridine-5-boronic acid pinacol ester.

Compound 5

This compound was made using General Method A and4-[4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl]morpholine.

Compound 6

This compound was made using General Method C and N-methyl-piperazine.

Compound 7

This compound was made using General Method C and piperidine.

Compound 8

This compound was made using General Method C andpiperidine-4-carboxylic acid amide.

Compound 9

This compound was made using General Method C and1-piperazin-1-yl-ethanone.

Compound 10

This compound was made using General Method B and thiomorpholine1,1-dioxide.

Compound 11

This compound was made using General Method D and4,4-difluoropiperidine.

The compound of the invention and the comparative examples that havebeen prepared according to the synthetic methods described herein arelisted in Table I below. The NMR spectral data of the compound of theinvention and some of the comparative examples is given in Table II.

TABLE 1 Cpd MS # Structures Name MW Mes'd 1

Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid {5-[4- (1,1-dioxo-1-thiomorpholin-4-ylmethyl)-phenyl]-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5- a]pyridin-2-yl}-amide 425.51 4262

N-(5-(4-(morpholinomethyl)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide 377.45 378.20 3

N-(5-(3-(morpholinomethyl)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide 377.45 378.20 4

N-(5-(6-morpholinopyridin-3-yl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide 364.41 365.10 5

N-(5-(4-morpholinophenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide 363.42 364.0 6

N-(5-(4-((4-methylpiperazin-1- yl)methyl)phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide 390;49 391.1 7

N-(5-(4-(piperidin-1-ylmethyl)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide 375.48 376.1 8

1-(cyclopropanecarboxamido)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-5-yl)benzyl)piperidine-4-carboxamide 418.5 419.1 9

N-(5-(4-((4-acetoylpiperazin-1- yl)methyl)phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2- yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide 418.5 419.1 10

Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid {5-[4- (1,1-dioxo-1-thiomorpholine-4-carbonyl)-phenyl]-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5- a]pyridin-2-yl}-amide 439.49440.0 11

Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid {5-[4- (4,4-difluoro-piperidin-1-ylmethyl)-phenyl]-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-2- yl}-amide 411.46 412.1

TABLE II NMR Data of Representative Compounds of the Invention Cpd # (δ)NMR data 1 (¹H, DMSO-d6) 11.00 (1H, b, NH) 7.99 (2H, d, 2 × ArH) 7.70(2H, m, 2 × ArH) 7.53 (2H, d, 2 × ArH) 7.30 (1H, dd, ArH) 3.78 (2H, s,CH₂) 3.14 (4H, b, 4 × CH) 2.93 (4H, b, 4 × CH) 2.03 (1H, b, CH) 0.82(4H, m, 2 × CH₂) 2 (¹H, CDCl₃) 10.20 (1H, b, NH), 8.06 (2H, d, ArH),7.72 (2H, m, ArH), 7.63 (2H, d, ArH), 7.23 (1H, d, ArH), 4.27 (2H, s,CH₂), 3.99 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂), 3.50 (2H, br, CH₂), 2.95 (2H, br, CH₂),1.97 (1H, br, CH), 1.17 (2H, m, CH₂), 0.95 (2H, m, CH₂) 3 (¹H, CDCl₃)8.32 (1H, s, ArH), 7.96 (1H, m, ArH), 7.79 (1H, m, ArH), 7.66 (3H, m,ArH), 7.32 (1H, d, ArH), 4.31 (2H, s, CH₂), 4.05 (4H, b, 2 × CH₂), 3.6(2H, br, CH₂), 3.06 (2H, br, CH₂), 1.85 (1H, br, CH), 1.12 (2H, m, CH₂),0.98 (2H, m, CH₂) 4 (¹H, CDCl₃) 8.71 (1H, s, NH), 8.35 (1H, m, ArH),8.27 (1H, br, ArH), 7.57 (2H, d, ArH), 7.07 (1H, m, ArH), 6.78 (1H, d,ArH), 3.86 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂), 3.66 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂), 1.6 (1H, br, CH),1.22 (2H, m, CH₂), 0.95 (2H, m, CH₂) 5 (¹H, DMSO-d6) 11.06 (1H, br, NH),7.98 (2H, d, ArH), 7.67 (1H, m, ArH), 7.59 (1H, d, ArH), 7.25 (1H, m,ArH), 7.08 (2H, m, ArH), 3.67 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂), 3.25 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂),2.02 (1H, br, CH), 0.82 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂) 10 (¹H, DMSO-d6) 11.03 (1H, b,NH), 8.11 (2H, d, ArH), 7.73 (1H, d, ArH), 7.72 (1H, s, ArH), 7.68 (2H,d, ArH), 7.36 (1H, dd, ArH), 4.01 (2H, b, CH2), 3.81 (2H, b, CH₂), 3.31(4H, b under water peak, 2 × CH₂), 2.03 (1H, b, CH), 0.81 (4H, m, CH₂).11 (¹H, DMSO-d6) 10.99 (1H, b, NH), 7.98 (2H, d, 2 × ArH), 7.70 (2H, m,2 × ArH), 7.50 (2H, d, 2 × ArH), 7.29 (1H, dd, ArH), 3.65 (2H, s, CH₂),2.54 (4H, b, 4 × CH), 1.98 (5H, b, 5 × CH), 0.81 (4H, m, 2 × CH₂)

Biological Examples Example 1: In-Vitro Assays 1.1 JAK1 Inhibition Assay

Recombinant human JAK1 catalytic domain (amino acids 850-1154; catalognumber 08-144) was purchased from Carna Biosciences. 10 ng of JAK1 wasincubated with 12.5 μg polyGT substrate (Sigma catalog number P0275) inkinase reaction buffer (15 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 1 mM DTT, 0.01% Tween-20,10 mM MgCl₂, 2 μM non-radioactive ATP, 0.25 μCi ³³P-gamma-ATP (GEHealthcare, catalog number AH9968) final concentrations) with or without5 μL containing test compound or vehicle (DMSO, 1% final concentration),in a total volume of 25 μL, in a polypropylene 96-well plate (Greiner,V-bottom). After 45 min at 30° C., reactions were stopped by adding of25 μL/well of 150 mM phosphoric acid. All of the terminated kinasereaction was transferred to prewashed (75 mM phosphoric acid) 96 wellfilter plates (Perkin Elmer catalog number 6005177) using a cellharvester (Perkin Elmer). Plates were washed 6 times with 300 μL perwell of a 75 mM phosphoric acid solution and the bottom of the plateswas sealed. 40 μL/well of Microscint-20 was added, the top of the plateswas sealed and readout was performed using the Topcount (Perkin Elmer).Kinase activity was calculated by subtracting counts per minute (cpm)obtained in the presence of a positive control inhibitor (10 μMstaurosporine) from cpm obtained in the presence of vehicle. The abilityof a test compound to inhibit this activity was determined as:

Percentage inhibition=((cpm determined for sample with test compoundpresent−cpm determined for sample with positive control inhibitor)divided by (cpm determined in the presence of vehicle−cpm determined forsample with positive control inhibitor))*100.

Dose dilution series were prepared for the compounds enabling thetesting of dose-response effects in the JAK1 assay and the calculationof the IC₅₀ for each compound. Each compound was routinely tested atconcentration of 20 μM followed by a ⅓ serial dilution, 8 points (20μM-6.67 μM-2.22 μM-740 nM-247 nM-82 nM-27 nM-9 nM) in a finalconcentration of 1% DMSO. When potency of compound series increased,more dilutions were prepared and/or the top concentration was lowered(e.g. 5 μM, 1 μM).

The following compounds have been tested for their activity against JAK1and the IC₅₀ values, as determined using the assays described herein,are given below in Table IIIA.

TABLE IIIA JAK1 Values of Compounds Cpd # JAK1 IC₅₀ (nM) 1 47.07, 55.66,50.1, 48.29 2 50.91, 52.11 3 291 4 1032 5 1450 6 3448 7 504.1 8 435 9334.3 10 18.16 11 7.69

1.2 JAK1 Ki Determination Assay

For the determination of Ki, different amounts of compound were mixedwith the enzyme and the enzymatic reaction was followed as a function ofATP concentration. The Ki was determined by means of double reciprocalplotting of Km vs compound concentration (Lineweaver-Burk plot). 1 ng ofJAK1 (Invitrogen, PV4774) was used in the assay. The substrate was 50 nMUlight-JAK-1 (Tyr1023) Peptide (Perkin Elmer, TRF0121) The reaction wasperformed in 25 mM MOPS pH 6.8, 0.01%, 2 mM DTT, 5 mM MgCl₂ Brij-35 withvarying concentrations of ATP and compound. Phosphorylated substrate wasmeasured using an Eu-labeled anti-phosphotyrosine antibody PT66 (PerkinElmer, AD0068). Readout was performed on the envision (Perkin Elmer)with excitation at 320 nm and emission followed at 615 nm and 665 nm.

For example, when Compound 1 was tested in this assay, a Ki value of 39nM was measured.

1.3 JAK2 Inhibition Assay

Recombinant human JAK2 catalytic domain (amino acids 808-1132; catalognumber PV4210) was purchased from Invitrogen. 0.025 mU of JAK2 wasincubated with 2.5 μg polyGT substrate (Sigma catalog number P0275) inkinase reaction buffer (5 mM MOPS pH 7.5, 9 mM MgAc, 0.3 mM EDTA, 0.06%Brij and 0.6 mM DTT, 1 μM non-radioactive ATP, 0.25 μCi ³³P-gamma-ATP(GE Healthcare, catalog number AH9968) final concentrations) with orwithout 5 μL containing test compound or vehicle (DMSO, 1% finalconcentration), in a total volume of 25 μL, in a polypropylene 96-wellplate (Greiner, V-bottom). After 90 min at 30° C., reactions werestopped by adding of 25 μL/well of 150 mM phosphoric acid. All of theterminated kinase reaction was transferred to prewashed (75 mMphosphoric acid) 96 well filter plates (Perkin Elmer catalog number6005177) using a cell harvester (Perkin Elmer). Plates were washed 6times with 300 μL per well of a 75 mM phosphoric acid solution and thebottom of the plates was sealed. 40 μL/well of Microscint-20 was added,the top of the plates was sealed and readout was performed using theTopcount (Perkin Elmer). Kinase activity was calculated by subtractingcounts per minute (cpm) obtained in the presence of a positive controlinhibitor (10 μM staurosporine) from cpm obtained in the presence ofvehicle. The ability of a test compound to inhibit this activity wasdetermined as:

Percentage inhibition=((cpm determined for sample with test compoundpresent−cpm determined for sample with positive control inhibitor)divided by (cpm determined in the presence of vehicle−cpm determined forsample with positive control inhibitor))*100.

Dose dilution series were prepared for the compounds enabling thetesting of dose-response effects in the JAK2 assay and the calculationof the IC₅₀ for each compound. Each compound was routinely tested atconcentration of 20 μM followed by a ⅓ serial dilution, 8 points (20μM-6.67 μM-2.22 μM-740 nM-247 nM-82 nM-27 nM-9 nM) in a finalconcentration of 1% DMSO. When potency of compound series increased,more dilutions were prepared and/or the top concentration was lowered(e.g. 5 μM, 1 μM).

The following compounds have been tested for their activity against JAK2and the IC₅₀ values, as determined using the assays described herein,are given below in Table IIIB.

TABLE IIIB JAK2 IC₅₀ Values of Compounds Cpd # JAK2 IC₅₀ (nM) 1 31.37,41.16, 55.49, 167.34 2 38.73, 152.3, 184.7 3 N/A 4 N/A 5 1760 6 5070 76449 8 7731, 1355 9 848.7 10 65.42 11 15.51

1.4 JAK2 Kd Determination Assay

JAK2 (Invitrogen, PV4210) was used at a final concentration of 5 nM. Thebinding experiment was performed in 50 mM Hepes pH 7.5, 0.01% Brij-35,10 mM MgCl₂, 1 mM EGTA using 25 nM kinase tracer 236 (Invitrogen,PV5592) and 2 nM Eu-anti-GST (Invitrogen, PV5594) with varying compoundconcentrations. Detection of tracer was performed according to themanufacturers procedure.

For example, when Compound 1 was tested in this assay, a Kd value of 205nM was measured.

1.5 JAK3 Inhibition Assay

Recombinant human JAK3 catalytic domain (amino acids 781-1124; catalognumber PV3855) was purchased from Invitrogen. 0.025 mU of JAK3 wasincubated with 2.5 μg polyGT substrate (Sigma catalog number P0275) inkinase reaction buffer (25 mM Tris pH 7.5, 0.5 mM EGTA, 0.5 mM Na₃VO₄, 5mM b-glycerolphosphate, 0.01% Triton X-100, 1 μM non-radioactive ATP,0.25 μCi 33P-gamma-ATP (GE Healthcare, catalog number AH9968) finalconcentrations) with or without 5 μL, containing test compound orvehicle (DMSO, 1% final concentration), in a total volume of 25 μL, in apolypropylene 96-well plate (Greiner, V-bottom). After 105 min at 30°C., reactions were stopped by adding of 25 μL/well of 150 mM phosphoricacid. All of the terminated kinase reaction was transferred to prewashed(75 mM phosphoric acid) 96 well filter plates (Perkin Elmer catalognumber 6005177) using a cell harvester (Perkin Elmer). Plates werewashed 6 times with 300 μL per well of a 75 mM phosphoric acid solutionand the bottom of the plates was sealed. 40 μL/well of Microscint-20 wasadded, the top of the plates was sealed and readout was performed usingthe Topcount (Perkin Elmer). Kinase activity was calculated bysubtracting counts per minute (cpm) obtained in the presence of apositive control inhibitor (10 μM staurosporine) from cpm obtained inthe presence of vehicle. The ability of a test compound to inhibit thisactivity was determined as:

Percentage inhibition=((cpm determined for sample with test compoundpresent−cpm determined for sample with positive control inhibitor)divided by (cpm determined in the presence of vehicle−cpm determined forsample with positive control inhibitor))*100.

Dose dilution series were prepared for the compounds enabling thetesting of dose-response effects in the JAK3 assay and the calculationof the IC₅₀ for each compound. Each compound was routinely tested atconcentration of 20 μM followed by a ⅓ serial dilution, 8 points (20μM-6.67 μM-2.22 μM-740 nM-247 nM-82 nM-27 nM-9 nM) in a finalconcentration of 1% DMSO. When potency of compound series increased,more dilutions were prepared and/or the top concentration was lowered(e.g. 5 μM, 1 μM).

The following compounds have been tested for their activity against JAK3and the IC₅₀ values, as determined using the assays described herein,are given below in Table IIIC.

TABLE IIIC JAK3 IC₅₀ Values of Compounds Cpd # JAK3 IC₅₀ (nM) 1 149.35,187.3, 189.3, 194.7 2 2843 11 194.6

1.6 JAK3 Ki Determination Assay

For the determination of Ki, different amounts of compound are mixedwith the enzyme and the enzymatic reaction is followed as a function ofATP concentration. The Ki is determined by means of double reciprocalplotting of Km vs compound concentration (Lineweaver-Burk plot). JAK3(Carna Biosciences, 09CBS-0625B) was used at a final concentration of 10ng/ml. The substrate was Poly(Glu,Tyr)sodium salt (4:1), MW 20 000-50000 (Sigma, P0275) The reaction was performed in 25 mM Tris pH 7.5,0.01% Triton X-100, 0.5 mM EGTA, 2.5 mM DTT, 0.5 mM Na₃VO₄, 5 mMb-glycerolphosphate, 10 mM MgCl₂ with varying concentrations of ATP andcompound and stopped by addition of 150 mM phosphoric acid. Measurementof incorporated phosphate into the substrate polyGT was done by loadingthe samples on a filter plate (using a harvester, Perkin Elmer) andsubsequent washing. Incorporated ³³P in polyGT is measured in a Topcountscintillation counter after addition of scintillation liquid to thefilter plates (Perkin Elmer).

For example, when Compound 1 was tested in this assay, a Ki value of 353nM was measured.

1.7 TYK2 Inhibition Assay

Recombinant human TYK2 catalytic domain (amino acids 871-1187; catalognumber 08-147) was purchased from Carna biosciences. 5 ng of TYK2 wasincubated with 12.5 μg polyGT substrate (Sigma catalog number P0275) inkinase reaction buffer (25 mM Hepes pH 7.5, 100 mM NaCl, 0.2 mM Na₃VO₄,0.1% NP-40, 0.1 μM non-radioactive ATP, 0.125 μCi ³³P-gamma-ATP (GEHealthcare, catalog number AH9968) final concentrations) with or without5 μL containing test compound or vehicle (DMSO, 1% final concentration),in a total volume of 25 μL, in a polypropylene 96-well plate (Greiner,V-bottom). After 90 min at 30° C., reactions were stopped by adding 25μL/well of 150 mM phosphoric acid. All of the terminated kinase reactionwas transferred to prewashed (75 mM phosphoric acid) 96 well filterplates (Perkin Elmer catalog number 6005177) using a cell harvester(Perkin Elmer). Plates were washed 6 times with 300 μL per well of a 75mM phosphoric acid solution and the bottom of the plates was sealed. 40μL/well of Microscint-20 was added, the top of the plates was sealed andreadout was performed using the Topcount (Perkin Elmer). Kinase activitywas calculated by subtracting counts per minute (cpm) obtained in thepresence of a positive control inhibitor (10 μM staurosporine) from cpmobtained in the presence of vehicle. The ability of a test compound toinhibit this activity was determined as:

Percentage inhibition=((cpm determined for sample with test compoundpresent−cpm determined for sample with positive control inhibitor)divided by (cpm determined in the presence of vehicle−cpm determined forsample with positive control inhibitor))*100.

Dose dilution series were prepared for the compounds enabling thetesting of dose-response effects in the TYK2 assay and the calculationof the IC₅₀ for each compound. Each compound was routinely tested atconcentration of 2004 followed by a ⅓ serial dilution, 8 points (20μM-6.67 μM-2.22 μM-740 nM-247 nM-82 nM-27 nM-9 nM) in a finalconcentration of 1% DMSO. When potency of compound series increased,more dilutions were prepared and/or the top concentration was lowered(e.g. 5 μM, 1 μM).

The following compounds have been tested for their activity againstTYK2; and the IC₅₀ values, as determined using the assays describedherein, are given below in Table IIID.

TABLE IIID TYK2 IC₅₀ Values of Compounds Cpd # TYK2 IC₅₀ (nM) 1 72.7,73.75, 79.07, 86.77 2 2096 11 125.8

1.8 TYK2 Kd Determination Assay

TYK2 (Carna Biosciences, 09CBS-0983D) was used at a final concentrationof 5 nM. The binding experiment was performed in 50 mM Hepes pH 7.5,0.01% Brij-35, 10 mM MgCl₂, 1 mM EGTA using 50 nM kinase tracer 236(Invitrogen, PV5592) and 2 nM Eu-anti-GST (Invitrogen, PV5594) withvarying compound concentrations. Detection of tracer was performedaccording to the manufacturers' procedure.

For example, when Compound 1 was tested in this assay, a Kd value of 376nM was measured.

Example 2. Cellular Assays 2.1 JAK-STAT Signalling Assay

HeLa cells were maintained in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM)containing 10% heat inactivated fetal calf serum, 100 U/mL penicillinand 100 μg/mL streptomycin. HeLa cells were used at 70% confluence fortransfection. 20,000 cells in 87 μL cell culture medium were transientlytransfected with 40 ng pSTAT1(2)-luciferase reporter (Panomics), 8 ng ofLacZ reporter as internal control reporter and 52 ng of pBSK using 0.32μL Jet-PEI (Polyplus) as transfection reagent per well in 96-well plateformat. After overnight incubation at 37° C., 10% CO₂, transfectionmedium was removed. 75 μL of DMEM+1.5% heat inactivated fetal calf serumwas added. 15 μL compound at 6.7× concentration was added for 60 min andthen 10 μL of human OSM (Peprotcch) at 33 ng/mL final concentration.

All compounds were tested in duplicate starting from 20 μM followed by a⅓ serial dilution, 8 doses in total (20 μM-6.6 μM-2.2 μM-740 nM-250nM-82 nM-27 nM-9 nM) in a final concentration of 0.2% DMSO.

After overnight incubation at 37° C., 10% CO₂ cells were lysed in 100 μLlysis buffer/well (PBS, 0.9 mM CaCl₂, 0.5 mM MgCl₂, 5% Trehalose, 0.025%Tergitol NP9, 0.15% BSA).

40 μL of cell lysate was used to read β-galactosidase activity by adding180 μL n-Gal solution (30 μl ONPG 4 mg/mL+150 μL β-Galactosidase buffer(0.06 M Na₂HPO₄, 0.04 M NaH₂PO₄, 1 mM MgCl₂)) for 20 min. The reactionwas stopped by addition of 50 μL Na₂CO₃ 1 M. Absorbance was read at 405nm.

Luciferase activity was measured using 40 μL cell lysate plus 40 μL ofSteadylite as described by the manufacturer (Perkin Elmer), on theEnvision (Perkin Elmer).

10 μM of a pan-JAK inhibitor was used as a positive control (100%inhibition). As negative control 0.5% DMSO (0% inhibition) was used. Thepositive and negative controls were used to calculate z′ and ‘percentinhibition’ (PIN) values.

Percentage inhibition=((fluorescence determined in the presence ofvehicle−fluorescence determined for sample with test compound present)divided by (fluorescence determined in the presence ofvehicle−fluorescence determined for sample without trigger))*100.

PIN values were plotted for compounds tested in dose-response and EC₅₀values were derived.

TABLE IV Cpd # EC₅₀ (nM) 1 922.5, 625.6, 987.7, 1767 2 >10000, 3322,2492 11 740.4

Example 2.2 OSM/IL-1β Signaling Assay

OSM and IL-1β were shown to synergistically upregulate MMP13 levels inthe human chondrosarcoma cell line SW1353. The cells were seeded in 96well plates at 15,000 cells/well in a volume of 120 μL DMEM (Invitrogen)containing 10% (v/v) FBS and 1% penicillin/streptomycin (InVitrogen)incubated at 37° C. 5% CO₂. Cells were preincubated with 15 μL ofcompound in M199 medium with 2% DMSO 1 hr before triggering with 15 μLOSM and IL-1β to reach 25 ng/mL OSM and 1 ng/mL IL-1β, and MMP13 levelswere measured in conditioned medium 48 hours after triggering. MMP13activity was measured using an antibody capture activity assay. For thispurpose, 384 well plates (NUNC, 460518, MaxiSorb black) were coated with35 μL of a 1.5 μg/mL anti-human MMP13 antibody (R&D Systems, MAB511)solution for 24 hrs at 4° C. After washing the wells 2 times withPBS+0.05% Tween, the remaining binding sites were blocked with 100 μL 5%non-fat dry milk (Santa Cruz, sc-2325, Blotto) in PBS for 24 hr at 4° C.Next, the wells were washed twice with PBS+0.05% Tween and 35 μL of 1/10dilution of culture supernatant containing MMP13 in 100-fold dilutedblocking buffer was added and incubated for 4 hr at room temperature.Next the wells were washed twice with PBS+0.05% Tween followed by MMP13activation by addition of 35 μL of a 1.5 mM 4-Aminophenylmercuricacetate (APMA) (Sigma, A9563) solution and incubation at 37° C. for 1hr. The wells were washed again with PBS+0.05% Tween and 35 μL MMP13substrate (Biomol, P-126, OmniMMP fluorogenic substrate) was added.After incubation for 24 hrs at 37° C. fluorescence of the convertedsubstrate was measured in a Perkin Elmer Wallac EnVision 2102 MultilabelReader (wavelength excitation: 320 nm, wavelength emission: 405 nm).

Percentage inhibition=((fluorescence determined in the presence ofvehicle−fluorescence determined for sample with test compound present)divided by (fluorescence determined in the presence ofvehicle−fluorescence determined for sample without trigger))*100.

For example, when Compound 1 was tested in this assay, an EC₅₀ value of2242.5 (±1098.5) nM was measured.

Example 2.3 PBL Proliferation Assay

Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) are stimulated with IL-2 andproliferation is measured using a BrdU incorporation assay. The PBL arefirst stimulated for 72 hrs with PHA to induce IL-2 receptor, then theyare fasted for 24 hrs to stop cell proliferation followed by IL-2stimulation for another 72 hrs (including 24 hr BrdU labeling). Cellsare preincubated with test compounds 1 hr before IL-2 addition. Cellsare cultured in RPMI 1640 containing 10% (v/v) FBS.

Example 2.4 Whole Blood Assay (WBA) 2.4.1 IFNα Stimulation Protocol

To predict the potency of the test compounds to inhibit JAK1 orJAK2-dependent signaling pathways in vivo, a physiologically relevant invitro model was developed using human whole blood. In the WBA assay,blood, drawn from human volunteers who gave informed consent, wastreated ex vivo with compound (1h) and subsequently stimulated eitherfor 30 minutes with interferon α (IFNα, JAK1 dependent pathway) or for 2h with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF, JAK2dependent pathway).

2.4.1.1 Phospho-STAT1 Assay

For IFNα stimulation, increase in phosphorylation of Signal Transducersand Activators of Transcription 1 (pSTAT1) by INFα in white blood cellextracts was measured using a pSTAT1 ELISA assay. Phosphorylation ofSignal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 1 (STAT1) afterinterferon alpha (IFNα) triggering is a JAK1-mediated event. ThePhospho-STAT1 Assay, which was used to measure Phospho-STAT1 levels incellular extracts, was developed to assess the ability of a compound toinhibit JAK1-dependent signaling pathways.

Whole human blood, drawn from human volunteers who gave informedconsent, was ex vivo treated with compound (1h) and subsequentlystimulated for 30 minutes with IFNα. The increase in phosphorylation ofSTAT1 by INFα in white blood cell extracts was measured using aphospho-STAT1 ELISA.

The ACK lysis buffer consisted of 0.15 M NH₄Cl, 10 mM KHCO₃, 0.1 mMEDTA. The pH of the buffer was 7.3.

A 10× cell lysis buffer concentrate (part of the PathScan Phospho-STAT1(Tyr701) sandwich ELISA kit from Cell Signaling) was diluted 10-fold inH₂O. Proteinase inhibitors were added to the buffer before use.

20 μg IFNα is dissolved in 40 μL H₂O to obtain a 500 μg/mL stocksolution. The stock solution was stored at −20° C.

A 3-fold dilution series of the compound was prepared in DMSO (highestconcentration: 10 mM). Subsequently, the compound was further diluted inmedium (dilution factor dependent on desired final compoundconcentration).

2.4.1.1.1 Incubation of Blood with Compound and Stimulation with IFNα

Human blood was collected in heparinized tubes. The blood was divided inaliquots of 392 μL. Afterwards, 4 μL of compound dilution was added toeach aliquot and the blood samples were incubated for 1 h at 37° C. TheIFNα stock solution was diluted 1000-fold in RPMI medium to obtain a 500ng/mL working solution. 4 μL of the 500 ng/mL work solution was added tothe blood samples (final concentration IFNα: 5 ng/ml). The samples wereincubated at 37° C. for 30 min.

2.4.1.1.2 Preparation of Cell Extracts

At the end of the stimulation period, 7.6 mL ACK buffer was added to theblood samples to lyse the red blood cells. The samples were mixed byinverting the tubes five times and the reaction was incubated on ice for5 min. The lysis of the RBC should be evident during this incubation.The cells were pelleted by centrifugation at 300 g, 4° C. for 7 min andthe supernatant was removed. 10 mL 1×PBS was added to each tube and thecell pellet was resuspended. The samples were centrifuged again for 7min at 300 g, 4° C. The supernatant was removed and the pelletresuspended in 500 μL of 1×PBS. Then, the cell suspension wastransferred to a clean 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tube. The cells werepelleted by centrifugation at 700 g for 5 min at 4° C. The supernatantwas removed and the pellet was dissolved in 150 μL cell lysis buffer.The samples were incubated on ice for 15 min. After that, the sampleswere stored at −80° C. until further processing.

2.4.1.1.3 Measurement of STAT1 Phosphorylation by ELISA

The Pathscan Phospho-STAT1 (Tyr701) Sandwich ELISA kit from CellSignaling (Cat. no: #7234) was used to determine Phospho-STAT1 levels.

The cellular extracts were thawed on ice. The tubes were centrifuged for5 min at 16,000 g, 4° C. and the cleared lysates were harvested.Meanwhile, the microwell strips from the kit were equilibrated to roomtemperature and wash buffer was prepared by diluting 20× wash buffer inH₂O. Samples were diluted 2-fold in sample diluent and 100 μL was addedto the microwell strips. The strips were incubated overnight at 4° C.

The following day, the wells were washed 3 times with wash buffer. 100μL of the detection antibody was added to the wells. The strips wereincubated at 37° C. for 1 h. Then, the wells were washed 3 times withwash buffer again. 100 μL HRP-linked secondary antibody was added toeach well and the samples were incubated at 37° C. After 30 min, thewells were washed 3 times again and 100 μL TMB substrate was added toall wells. When samples turned blue, 100 μL STOP solution was added tostop the reaction. Absorbance was measured at 450 nm.

2.4.1.2 Data Analysis

Inhibition of phosphoSTAT1 induction by IFNα in cell extracts wasplotted against the compound concentration and IC₅₀ values were derivedusing Graphpad software. Data were retained if R² was larger than 0.8and the hill slope was smaller than 3.

2.4.1.2 IL-8 ELISA

For GM-CSF stimulation, increase in interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels inplasma is measured using an IL-8 ELISA assay. Granulocytemacrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-induced interleukin 8(IL-8) expression is a JAK2-mediated event. The IL-8 ELISA, which can beused to measure IL-8 levels in plasma samples, has been developed toassess the ability of a compound to inhibit JAK2-dependent signalingpathways.

Whole human blood, drawn from human volunteers who gave informedconsent, is ex vivo treated with compound (1h) and subsequentlystimulated for 2 h with GM-CSF. The increase in IL-8 levels in plasma ismeasured using an IL-8 ELISA assay.

10 μg GM-CSF is dissolved in 100 μL H₂O to obtain a 100 μg/mL stocksolution. The stock solution is stored at −20° C.

A 3-fold dilution series of the test compound is prepared in DMSO(highest concentration: 10 mM). Subsequently, the compound is furtherdiluted in medium (dilution factor dependent on desired final compoundconcentration).

2.4.1.2.1 Incubation of Blood with Compound and Stimulation with GM-CSF

Human blood is collected in heparinized tubes. The blood is divided inaliquots of 245 μL. Afterwards, 2.5 μL test compound dilution is addedto each aliquot and the blood samples are incubated for 1 h at 37° C.The GM-CSF stock solution is diluted 100-fold in RPMI medium to obtain a1 μg/mL work solution. 2.5 μL of the 1 μg/mL work solution is added tothe blood samples (final concentration GM-CSF: 10 ng/mL). The samplesare incubated at 37° C. for 2 h.

2.4.1.2.2 Preparation of Plasma Samples

The samples are centrifuged for 15 min at 1,000 g, 4° C. 100 μL of theplasma is harvested and stored at −80° C. until further use.

2.4.1.2.3 Measurement of IL-8 Levels by ELISA

The Human IL-8 Chemiluminescent Immunoassay kit from R&D Systems (Cat.no: Q8000B) is used to determine IL-8 levels.

Wash buffer is prepared by diluting 10× wash buffer in H₂O. Working gloreagent is prepared by adding 1 part Glo Reagent 1 to 2 parts GloReagent B 15 min to 4 h before use. 100 μL assay diluent RD1-86 is addedto each well. After that, 50 μL of sample (plasma) is added. The ELISAplate is incubated for 2 h at room temperature, 500 rpm. All wells arewashed 4 times with wash buffer and 200 μL IL-8 conjugate is added toeach well. After incubation for 3 h at room temperature, the wells arewashed 4 times with wash buffer and 100 μL working glo reagent is addedto each well. The ELISA plate is incubated for 5 min at room temperature(protected from light). Luminescence is measured (0.5 s/well read time).

2.4.1.3 Results

For example, when submitted to this protocol, the pIC₅₀ of Compound 1for inhibiting the INFα induced increase of pSTAT1 levels was 6.23±0.15(SEM). This demonstrates that Compound 1 is potently inhibiting the JAK1pathway in physiological setting.

2.4.2 IL-6 Stimulation Protocol

In addition, a flow cytometry analysis was performed to establish JAK1over JAK2 compound selectivity ex vivo using human whole blood.Therefore, blood was taken from human volunteers who gave informedconsent. Blood was then equilibrated for 30 minutes at 37° C. undergentle rocking, then aliquoted in Eppendorf tubes. Compound was added atdifferent concentrations and incubated at 37° C. for 30 minutes undergentle rocking and subsequently stimulated for 20 minutes at 37° C.under gentle rocking with interleukin 6 (IL-6) for JAK1-dependentpathway stimulation or GM-CSF for JAK2-dependent pathway stimulation.Phospho-STAT1 and phospho-STAT5 were then evaluated using FACS analysis.

2.4.2.1 Phospho-STAT1 Assays

For IL-6-stimulated increase of Signal Transducers and Activators ofTranscription 1 (pSTAT1) phosphorylation in white blood cell, humanwhole blood, drawn from human volunteers who gave informed consent, wasex vivo treated with the compound for 30 min and subsequently stimulatedfor 20 minutes with IL-6. The increase in phosphorylation of STAT1 byIL-6 in lymphocytes was measured using anti phospho-STAT1 antibody byFACS.

The 5× Lysc/Fix buffer (BD PhosFlow, Cat. No 558049) was diluted 5-foldwith distilled water and pre-warmed at 37° C. The remaining dilutedLyse/Fix buffer was discarded.

10 μg rhIL-6 (R&D Systems, Cat No 206-IL) was dissolved in 1 ml of PBS0.1% BSA to obtain a 10 μg/ml stock solution. The stock solution wasaliquoted and stored at −80° C.

A 3-fold dilution series of the compound was prepared in DMSO (10 mMstock solution). Control-treated samples received DMSO instead ofcompound. All samples were incubated with a 1% final DMSO concentration.

2.4.2.1.1 Incubation of Blood with Compound and Stimulation with IL-6

Human blood was collected in heparinized tubes. The blood was divided inaliquots of 148.5 μl. Then, 1.5 μl of the test compound dilution wasadded to each blood aliquot and the blood samples were incubated for 30min at 37° C. under gentle rocking. IL-6 stock solution (1.5 μl) was dadded to the blood samples (final concentration 10 ng/ml) and sampleswere incubated at 37° C. for 20 min under gentle rocking.

2.4.2.1.2 White Blood Cell Preparation and CD4 Labeling

At the end of the stimulation period, 3 ml of 1× pre-warmed Lyse/Fixbuffer was immediately added to the blood samples, vortexed briefly andincubated for 15 min at 37° C. in a water bath in order to lyse redblood cells and fix leukocytes, then frozen at −80° C. until furtheruse.

For the following steps, tubes were thawed at 37° C. for approximately20 minutes and centrifuged for 5 min at 400×g at 4° C. The cell pelletwas washed with 3 ml of cold 1×PBS, and after centrifugation the cellpellet was resuspended in 100 μl of PBS containing 3% BSA.FITC-conjugated anti-CD4 antibody or control FITC-conjugated isotypeantibody were added and incubated for 20 min at room temperature, in thedark.

2.4.2.1.3 Cell Permeabilization and Labeling with Anti Phospho-STAT1Antibody

After washing cells with 1×PBS, the cell pellet was resuspended in 100μl of ice-cold 1×PBS and 900 μl ice-cold 100% methanol was added. Cellswere then incubated at 4° C. for 30 min for permeabilization.

Permeabilized cells were then washed with 1×PBS containing 3% BSA andfinally resuspended in 80 μl of 1×PBX containing 3% BSA.

20 μL of PE mouse anti-STAT1 (pY701) or PE mouse IgG2aκ isotype controlantibody (BD Biosciences, Cat. No 612564 and 559319, respectively) wereadded and mixed, then incubated for 30 min at 4° C., in the dark.

Cells are then washed once with 1×PBS and analyzed on a FACSCanto IIflow cytometer (BD Biosciences).

2.4.2.1.4 Fluorescence Analysis on FACSCanto II

50,000 total events were counted and Phospho-STAT1 positive cells weremeasured after gating on CD4+ cells, in the lymphocyte gate. Data wereanalyzed using the FACSDiva software and the percentage inhibition ofIL-6 stimulation calculated on the percentage of positive cells forphospho-STAT1 on CD4+ cells.

2.4.2.2 Phospho-STAT5 Assay

For GM-CSF-stimulated increase of Signal Transducers and Activators ofTranscription 5 (pSTAT5) phosphorylation in white blood cell, humanwhole blood, drawn from human volunteers who gave informed consent, isex vivo treated with compound for 30 min and subsequently stimulated for20 minutes with GM-CSF. The increase in phosphorylation of STAT5 byGM-CSF in monocytes is measured using an anti phospho-STAT5 antibody byFACS.

The 5× Lyse/Fix buffer (BD PhosFlow, Cat. No 558049) is diluted 5-foldwith distilled water and pre-warmed at 37° C. Remaining diluted Lyse/Fixbuffer is discarded.

10 μg rhGM-CSF (AbCys S.A., Cat No P300-03) is dissolved in 100 μl ofPBS 0.1% BSA to obtain a 100 μg/ml stock solution. The stock solution isstored aliquoted at −80° C.

A 3-fold dilution series of the compound is prepared in DMSO (10 mMstock solution). Control-treated samples receive DMSO without the testcompound. All samples are incubated with a 1% final DMSO concentration.

2.4.2.2.1 Incubation of Blood with Compound and Stimulation with GM-CSF

Human blood is collected in heparinized tubes. The blood is divided inaliquots of 148.5 μl. Then, 1.5 μl of compound dilution is added to eachaliquot and the blood samples are incubated for 30 min at 37° C. undergentle rocking. GM-CSF stock solution (1.5 μl) is added to the bloodsamples (final concentration 20 μg/ml) and samples are incubated at 37°C. for 20 min under gentle rocking.

2.4.2.2.2 White Blood Cell Preparation and CD14 Labeling

At the end of the stimulation period, 3 ml of 1× pre-warmed Lyse/Fixbuffer is immediately added to the blood samples, vortexed briefly andincubated for 15 min at 37° C. in a water bath in order to lyse redblood cells and fix leukocytes, then frozen at −80° C. until furtheruse.

For the following steps, tubes are thawed at 37° C. for approximately 20minutes and centrifuged for 5 min at 400×g at 4° C. The cell pellet iswashed with 3 ml of cold 1×PBS, and after centrifugation the cell pelletis resuspended in 100 μl of PBS containing 3% BSA. FITC mouse anti-CD14antibody (BD Biosciences, Cat. No 345784) or control FITC mouse IgG2bκisotype antibody (BD Biosciences, Cat. No 555057) are added andincubated for 20 min at room temperature, in the dark.

2.4.2.2.3 Cell Permeabilization and Labeling with Anti Phospho-STAT5Antibody

After washing cells with 1×PBS, the cell pellet is resuspended in 100 μlof ice-cold 1×PBS and 900 μl of ice-cold 100% methanol is added. Cellsare then incubated at 4° C. for 30 min for permeabilization.

Permeabilized cells are then washed with 1×PBS containing 3% BSA andfinally resuspended in 80 μl of 1×PBX containing 3% BSA.

20 μL of PE mouse anti-STAT5 (pY694) or PE mouse IgG1κ isotype controlantibody (BD Biosciences, Cat. No 612567 and 554680, respectively) areadded, mixed then incubated for 30 min at 4° C., in the dark.

Cells are then washed once with 1×PBS and analyzed on a FACSCanto IIflow cytometer (BD Biosciences).

2.4.2.2.4 Fluorescence Analysis on FACSCanto II

50,000 total events arc counted and Phospho-STAT5 positive cells arcmeasured after gating on CD14+ cells. Data are analyzed using theFACSDiva software and correspond to the percentage of inhibition ofGM-CSF stimulation calculated on the percentage of positive cells forphosphor-STAT5 on CD14+ cells.

2.4.2.2 Results

When submitted to this protocol, the percentage of inhibition (PIN)obtained from the mean of 3 healthy volunteers was determined for eachtest compounds. For example, Compound 1 was tested and returned apIC₅₀=6.08 in the inhibition of STAT1 phosphorylation.

Example 3. In Vivo Models Example 3.1 CIA Model 3.1.1 Materials

Completed Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA)were purchased from Difco. Bovine collagen type II (CII),lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and Enbrel was obtained from Chondrex (Isled'Abeau, France); Sigma (P4252, L'Isle d'Abeau, France), Whyett (25 mginjectable syringe, France) Acros Organics (Palo Alto, Calif.),respectively. All other reagents used were of reagent grade and allsolvents were of analytical grade.

3.1.2 Animals

Dark Agouti rats (male, 7-8 weeks old) were obtained from HarlanLaboratories (Maison-Alfort, France). Rats were kept on a 12 hrlight/dark cycle (0700-1900). Temperature was maintained at 22° C., andfood and water were provided ad libitum.

3.1.3 Collagen Induced Arthritis (CIA)

One day before the experiment, CII solution (2 mg/mL) was prepared with0.05 M acetic acid and stored at 4° C. Just before the immunization,equal volumes of adjuvant (IFA) and CII were mixed by a homogenizer in apre-cooled glass bottle in an ice water bath. Extra adjuvant andprolonged homogenization may be required if an emulsion is not formed.0.2 mL of the emulsion was injected intradermally at the base of thetail of each rat on day 1, a second booster intradermal injection (CIIsolution at 2 mg/mL in CFA 0.1 mL saline) was performed on day 9. Thisimmunization method was modified from published methods (Sims et al,2004; Jou et al., 2005).

3.1.4 Study Design

The therapeutic effects of the compounds were tested in the rat CIAmodel. Rats were randomly divided into equal groups and each groupcontained 10 rats. All rats were immunized on day 1 and boosted on day9. Therapeutic dosing lasted from day 16 to day 30. The negative controlgroup was treated with vehicle (MC 0.5%) and the positive control groupwith Enbrcl (10 mg/kg, 3× week., s.c.). A compound of interest wastypically tested at 3 doses, e.g. 3, 10, 30 mg/kg, p.o.

3.1.5 Clinical Assessment of Arthritis

Arthritis is scored according to the method of Khachigian 2006, Lin etal 2007 and Nishida et al. 2004). The swelling of each of the four pawsis ranked with the arthritic score as follows: 0-no symptoms; 1-mild,but definite redness and swelling of one type of joint such as the ankleor wrist, or apparent redness and swelling limited to individual digits,regardless of the number of affected digits; 2-moderate redness andswelling of two or more types of joints; 3-severe redness and swellingof the entire paw including digits; 4-maximally inflamed limb withinvolvement of multiple joints (maximum cumulative clinical arthritisscore 16 per animal) (Nishida et al., 2004).

To permit the meta-analysis of multiple studies the clinical scorevalues were normalised as follows:

AUC of clinical score (AUC score): The area under the curve (AUC) fromday 1 to day 14 was calculated for each individual rat. The AUC of eachanimal was divided by the average AUC obtained for the vehicle in thestudy from which the data on that animal was obtained and multiplied by100 (i.e. the AUC was expressed as a percentage of the average vehicleAUC per study).

Clinical score increase from day 1 to day 14 (End point score): Theclinical score difference for each animal was divided by the averageclinical score difference obtained for the vehicle in the study fromwhich the data on that animal was obtained and multiplied by 100 (i.e.the difference was expressed as a percentage of the average clinicalscore difference for the vehicle per study).

3.1.6 Change in Body Weight (%) after Onset of Arthritis

Clinically, body weight loss is associated with arthritis (Shelton etal., 2005; Argiles et al., 1998; Rall, 2004; Walsmith et al., 2004).Hence, changes in body weight after onset of arthritis can be used as anon-specific endpoint to evaluate the effect of therapeutics in the ratmodel. The change in body weight (%) after onset of arthritis wascalculated as follows:

${Mice}\text{:}\mspace{14mu} \frac{{{Body}\mspace{14mu} {Weight}_{({{week}\; 6})}} - {{Body}\mspace{14mu} {Weight}_{({{week}\; 5})}}}{{Body}\mspace{14mu} {Weight}_{({{week}\; 5})}} \times 100\%$${Rats}\text{:}\mspace{14mu} \frac{{{Body}\mspace{14mu} {Weight}_{({{week}\; 4})}} - {{Body}\mspace{14mu} {Weight}_{({{week}\; 3})}}}{{Body}\mspace{14mu} {Weight}_{({{week}\; 3})}} \times 100\%$

3.1.7 Radiology

X-ray photos were taken of the hind paws of each individual animal. Arandom blind identity number was assigned to each of the photos, and theseverity of bone erosion was ranked by two independent scorers with theradiological Larsen's score system as follows: 0—normal with intact bonyoutlines and normal joint space; 1—slight abnormality with any one ortwo of the exterior metatarsal bones showing slight bone erosion;2—definite early abnormality with any three to five of the exteriormetatarsal bones showing bone erosion; 3—medium destructive abnormalitywith all the exterior metatarsal bones as well as any one or two of theinterior metatarsal bones showing definite bone erosions; 4—severedestructive abnormality with all the metatarsal bones showing definitebone erosion and at least one of the inner metatarsal joints completelyeroded leaving some bony joint outlines partly preserved; 5-mutilatingabnormality without bony outlines. This scoring system is a modificationfrom Salvemini et al., 2001; Bush et al., 2002; Sims et al., 2004; Jouet al., 2005.

3.1.8 Histology

After radiological analysis, the hind paws of mice were fixed in 10%phosphate-buffered formalin (pH 7.4), decalcified with rapid bonedecalcifiant for fine histology (Laboratories Eurobio) and embedded inparaffin. To ensure extensive evaluation of the arthritic joints, atleast four serial sections (5 μm thick) were cut and each series ofsections were 100 μm in between. The sections were stained withhematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Histologic examinations for synovialinflammation and bone and cartilage damage were performed double blind.In each paw, four parameters were assessed using a four-point scale. Theparameters were cell infiltration, pannus severity, cartilage erosionand bone erosion. Scoring was performed according as follows: 1-normal,2-mild, 3-moderate, 4-marked. These four scores are summed together andrepresented as an additional score, namely the ‘RA total score’.

3.1.9 Micro-Computed Tomography (μCT) Analysis of Calcaneus (Heel Bone)

Bone degradation observed in RA occurs especially at the cortical boneand can be revealed by μCT analysis (Sims N A et al., Arthritis Rheum.50 (2004) 2338-2346: Targeting osteoclasts with zoledronic acid preventsbone destruction in collagen-induced arthritis; Oste L et al., ECTCMontreal 2007: A high throughput method of measuring bone architecturaldisturbance in a murine CIA model by micro-CT morphometry). Afterscanning and 3D volume reconstruction of the calcaneus bone, bonedegradation is measured as the number of discrete objects present perslide, isolated in silico perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thebone. The more the bone is degraded, the more discrete objects aremeasured. 1000 slices, evenly distributed along the calcaneus (spaced byabout 10.8 μm), are analyzed.

3.1.10 Steady State PK

At day 7 or 11, blood samples were collected at the retro-orbital sinuswith lithium heparin as anti-coagulant at the following time points:predose, 1, 3 and 6 hrs. Whole blood samples were centrifuged and theresulting plasma samples were stored at −20° C. pending analysis. Plasmaconcentrations of each test compound were determined by an LC-MS/MSmethod in which the mass spectrometer was operated in positiveelectrospray mode. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated usingWinnonlin® (Pharsight®, United States) and it was assumed that thepredose plasma levels were equal to the 24 hrs plasma levels.

Table V below summarises the results obtained for several PK parameters,for the compound of the invention and a comparative example,illustrating the improved PK properties (e.g. Cmax, T1/2) of thecompound of the invention.

TABLE V Compound 1 Compound 2 PO (mg/kg/day) PO (mg/kg/day) 0.1 0.3 1 310 30 10 30 Cmax (ng/mL) 5.18 19.3 102 363 1,167 3,805 867 2630 Tmax (h)3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 AUC(0-24h) (ng · h/mL) 30 163 931 1,932 7,172 27,7672019 7809 T1/2 (h) NC NC 3.6 5.6 4.5 3.9 1.17 3.36

3.1.11 Results

Table VI below summarises the results obtained for compounds 1 and 2 inthe rat CIA model, a “*” indicates that there was a statisticallysignificant improvement in the score, p 0.05 vs. untreated control.

TABLE VI Dose Clinical Assessment^($) Compound (mg/kg/day) End pointscore AUC Score Paw swelling Larsen' Score Compound 1 0.1 * * 0.3 * * *1 * * * 3 * * * * Compound 2 10 * 30 * * * ^($)“Clinical Score” refersto the normalized AUC score/normalized end point score obtained forCompound 1, and the AUC score/end point score for Compound 2.

Compound 1 exhibited statistically significant improvements in thenormalized clinical score values (calculated as AUC or as the differencefrom day 1 to day 14) at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg. Additionally, astatistically significant increase in the paw swelling readout and inthe Larsen score were seen at doses of 0.3 mg/kg and 3 mg/kgrespectively. In contrast, Compound 2 exhibited statisticallysignificant improvements only in the normalized clinical score values(on day 14) at a dose of 10 mg/kg. Additionally, a statisticallysignificant increase in the paw swelling readout and in the Larsen scorewere seen at doses of 30 mg/kg. Therefore, Compound 1 shows a 100 foldimprovement in efficacy over Compound 2 when the oral doses arecompared. In particular, at a dose of 3 mg/kg for Compound 1,statistically significant improvements were seen in all measures,however, a higher dose of Compound 2 resulted in only a statisticallysignificant improvement in the clinical score. This improvement in invivo potency cannot be attributed to increased exposure of the compoundas it can be see that the AUC(0-24 h) is lower for Compound 1 at 0.1,0.3 and 1 mg/kg/day compared to Compound 2 at 10 mg/kg/day.

Example 3.2 Septic Shock Model

Injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces a rapid release of solubletumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) into the periphery. This model wasused to analyse prospective blockers of TNF release in vivo.

Six BALB/cJ female mice (20 g) per group were treated at the intendeddosing once, po. Thirty minutes later, LPS (15 μg/kg; E. Coli serotype0111:B4) was injected ip. Ninety minutes later, mice were euthanized andblood was collected. Circulating TNF alpha levels were determined usingcommercially available ELISA kits. Dexamethasone (5 μg/kg) was used as areference anti-inflammatory compound. Selected compounds were tested atone or multiple doses, e.g. 3 and/or 10 and/or 30 mg/kg, po.

Compounds 1, 2 and 10 were active at a dose of 30 mg/kg, po.

Example 3.3 MAB Model

The MAB model allows a rapid assessment of the modulation of an RA-likeinflammatory response by therapeutics (Kachigian L M. Nature Protocols(2006) 2512-2516: Collagen antibody-induced arthritis). DBA/J mice areinjected i.v. with a cocktail of mAbs directed against collagen II. Oneday later, compound treatment is initiated (vehicle: 10% (v/v) HPβCD).Three days later, mice receive an i.p. LPS injection (50 μg/mouse),resulting in a fast onset of inflammation. Compound treatment iscontinued until 10 days after the mAb injection. Inflammation is read bymeasuring paw swelling and recording the clinical score of each paw. Thecumulative clinical arthritis score of four limbs is presented to showthe severity of inflammation. A scoring system is applied to each limbusing a scale of 0-4, with 4 being the most severe inflammation.

-   -   0 Symptom free    -   1 Mild, but definite redness and swelling of one type of joint        such as the ankle or wrist, or apparent redness and swelling        limited to individual digits, regardless of the number of        affected digits    -   2 Moderate redness and swelling of two or more types of joints    -   3 Severe redness and swelling of the entire paw including digits    -   4 Maximally inflamed limb with involvement of multiple joints

Example 3.4 Oncology Models

In vivo models to validate efficacy of small molecules towardsJAK2-driven myleoproliferative diseases are described by Wernig et al.Cancer Cell 13, 311, 2008 and Geron et al. Cancer Cell 13, 321, 2008.

Example 3.5 Mouse IBD Model

In vitro and in vivo models to validate efficacy of small moleculestowards IBD are described by Wirtz et al. 2007.

Example 3.6 Mouse Asthma Model

In vitro and in vivo models to validate efficacy of small moleculestowards asthma are described by Nials et al., 2008; Ip et al. 2006;Pernis et al., 2002; Kudlacz et al., 2008.

Example 4: Pharmacokinetic, DMPK and Toxicity Assays Example 4.1Thermodynamic Solubility

A solution of 1 mg/mL of the test compound is prepared in a 0.2Mphosphate buffer pH 7.4 or a 0.1M citrate buffer pH 3.0 at roomtemperature in a glass vial.

The samples arc rotated in a Rotator drive STR 4 (Stuart Scientific,Bibby) at speed 3.0 at room temperature for 24 hrs.

After 24 hrs, 800 μL of the sample is transferred to an eppendorf tubeand centrifuged 5 min at 14000 rpm. 200 μL of the supernatant of thesample is then transferred to a MultiscreenR Solubility Plate(Millipore, MSSLBPC50) and the supernatant is filtered (10-12″ Hg) withthe aid of a vacuum manifold into a clean Greiner polypropylene V-bottom96 well plate (Cat no. 651201). 5 μL of the filtrate is diluted into 95μL (F20) of the same buffer used to incubate in the plate containing thestandard curve (Greiner, Cat no. 651201).

The standard curve for the compound is prepared freshly in DMSO startingfrom a 10 mM DMSO stock solution diluted factor 2 in DMSO (5000 μM) andthen further diluted in DMSO up to 19.5 μM. 3 μl of the dilution seriesas from 5000 μM is then transferred to a 97 μL acetonitrile-buffermixture (50/50). The final concentration range was 2.5 to 150 μM.

The plate is sealed with sealing mats (MA96RD-045, www.kinesis.co.uk)and samples are measured at room temperature on LCMS (ZQ 1525 fromWaters) under optimized conditions using Quanoptimize to determine theappropriate mass of the molecule.

The samples are analyzed on LCMS with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Solvent Ais 15 mM ammonia and solvent B is acetonitrile. The sample is run underpositive ion spray on an XBridge C18 3.5 μM (2.1×30 mm) column, fromWaters. The solvent gradient has a total run time of 2 minutes andranges from 5% B to 95% B.

Peak areas are analyzed with the aid of Masslynx software package andpeak areas of the samples are plotted against the standard curve toobtain the solubility of the compound.

Solubility values are reported in μM or μg/mL.

Example 4.2 Aqueous Solubility

Starting from a 10 mM stock in DMSO, a serial dilution of the compoundwas prepared in DMSO. The dilution series was transferred to a 96 NUNCMaxisorb plate F-bottom (Cat no. 442404) and 0.2M phosphate buffer pH7.4or 0.1M citrate buffer pH 3.0 at room temperature was added.

The final concentration ranged from 200 μM to 2.5 μM in 5 equal dilutionsteps. The final DMSO concentration did not exceed 2%. 200 μM Pyrene wasadded to the corner points of each 96 well plate and served as areference point for calibration of Z-axis on the microscope.

The assay plates were sealed and incubated for 1 hr at 37° C. whileshaking at 230 rpm. The plates were then scanned under a white lightmicroscope, yielding individual pictures of the precipitate perconcentration. The precipitate was analyzed and converted into a numberwhich was plotted onto a graph. The first concentration at which thecompound appears completely dissolved is the concentration is reportedbelow, however the true concentration lies somewhere between thisconcentration and one dilution step higher.

Solubility values arc reported in μg/mL

TABLE VII Compound # pH 3.0 (μg/mL) pH 7.4 (μg/mL) 1 >85 >85 2 >38 >3810 >87.9 >87.9

Example 4.3 Plasma Protein Binding (Equilibrium Dialysis)

A 10 mM stock solution of the compound in DMSO was diluted with a factor5 in DMSO. This solution was further diluted in freshly thawed human,rat, mouse or dog plasma (BioReclamation INC) with a final concentrationof 10 μM and final DMSO concentration of 0.5% (5.5 μL in 1094.5 μLplasma in a PP-Masterblock 96 well (Greiner, Cat no. 780285))

A Pierce Red Device plate with inserts (ThermoScientific, Cat no. 89809)was prepared and filled with 750 μL PBS in the buffer chamber and 500 μLof the spiked plasma in the plasma chamber. The plate was incubated for4 hrs at 37° C. while shaking at 230 rpm. After incubation, 120 μL ofboth chambers was transferred to 360 μL acetonitrile in a 96-well roundbottom, PP deep-well plates (Nunc, Cat no. 278743) and sealed with analuminum foil lid. The samples were mixed and placed on ice for 30 min.This plate was then centrifuged 30 min at 1200 rcf at 4° C. and thesupernatant was transferred to a 96 v-bottom PP plate (Greiner, 651201)for analysis on LCMS.

The plate is sealed with sealing mats (MA96RD-04S) of www.kinesis.co.ukand samples are measured at room temperature on LCMS (ZQ 1525 fromWaters) under optimized conditions using Quanoptimize to determine theappropriate mass of the molecule.

The samples were analyzed on LCMS with a flow rate of 1 ml/min. SolventA was 15 mM ammonia and solvent B was acetonitrile. The sample was rununder positive ion spray on an XBridge C18 3.5 μM (2.1×30 mm) column,from Waters. The solvent gradient has a total run time of 2 minutes andranges from 5% B to 95% B.

Peak area from the compound in the buffer chamber and the plasma chamberare considered to be 100% compound. The percentage bound to plasma wasderived from these results and was reported as percentage bound toplasma.

The solubility of the compound in the final test concentration in PBSwas inspected by microscope to indicate whether precipitation isobserved or not.

TABLE VIII Compound # Human (%) Rat (%) 1 76.4 65.7 2 70.5 64.5 10 n/a51 11 91.25 76.5

Example 4.4 Microsomal Stability

A 10 mM stock solution of compound in DMSO was diluted 1000 fold in a182 mM phosphate buffer pH7.4 in a 96 deep well plate (Greiner, Cat no.780285) and pre-incubated at 37° C.

40 μL of deionised water was added to a well of a polypropylene Matrix2D barcode labelled storage tube (Thermo Scientific) and pre-incubatedat 37° C.

A Glucose-6-phophate-dehydrogenase (G6PDH) working stock solution wasprepared in 182 mM phosphate buffer pH7.4 and placed on ice before use.A co-factor containing MgCl₂, glucose-6-phosphate and NADP+ was preparedin deionised water and placed on ice before use.

A final working solution containing liver microsomes (Xenotech) of aspecies of interest (human, mouse, rat, dog), previously described G6PDHand co-factors was prepared and this mix was incubated for no longerthan 20 minutes at room temperature.

30 μL of the pre-heated compound dilution was added to 40 μL ofpre-heated water in the Matrix tubes and 30 μL of the microsomal mix wasadded. Final reaction concentrations were 3 μM compound, 1 mgmicrosomes, 0.4 U/mL GDPDH, 3.3 mM MgCl₂, 3.3 mM glucose-6-phosphate and1.3 mM NADP+.

To measure percentage remaining of compound at time zero MeOH or ACN wasadded (1:1) to the well before adding the microsomal mix. The plateswere sealed with Matrix Sepra Seals™ (Matrix, Cat. No. 4464) and shakenfor a few seconds ensure complete mixing of all components.

The samples which were not stopped are incubated at 37° C., 300 rpm andafter 1 hr of incubation the reaction was stopped with MeOH or ACN(1:1).

After stopping the reaction the samples were mixed and placed on ice for30 min to precipitate the proteins. The plates were then centrifuged 30min at 1200 rcf at 4° C. and the supernatant was transferred to a 96v-bottom PP plate (Greiner, 651201) for analysis on LCMS.

These plates were sealed with sealing mats (MA96RD-04S) ofwww.kinesis.co.uk and samples were measured at room temperature on LCMS(ZQ 1525 from Waters) under optimized conditions using Quanoptimize todetermine the appropriate mass of the parent molecule.

The samples were analyzed on LCMS with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. SolventA was 15 mM ammonia and solvent B was methanol or acetonitrile,depending on the stop solution used. The samples were run under positiveion spray on an XBridge C18 3.5 μM (2.1×30 mm) column, from Waters. Thesolvent gradient had a total run time of 2 minutes and ranges from 5% Bto 95% B.

Peak area from the parent compound at time 0 was considered to be 100%remaining. The percentage remaining after 1 hr incubation was calculatedfrom time 0 and was calculated as the percentage remaining. Thesolubility of the compound in the final test concentration in buffer isinspected by microscope and results are reported.

The data on microsomal stability arc expressed as a percentage of thetotal amount of compound remaining after 60 min.

TABLE IX Compound # Human (%) Rat (%) 1 87.2 65.6 2 73 38 10 102 89 1151 26

Example 4.5 Caco2 Permeability

Bi-directional Caco-2 assays were performed as described below. Caco-2cells were obtained from European Collection of Cell Cultures (ECACC,cat 86010202) and used after a 21 day cell culture in 24-well Transwellplates (Fisher TKT-545-020B).

2×10⁵ cells/well were seeded in plating medium consisting ofDMEM+GlutaMAXI+1% NEAA+10% FBS (FetalClone II)+1% Pen/Strep. The mediumwas changed every 2-3 days.

Test and reference compounds (propranolol and rhodamine123 orvinblastine, all purchased from Sigma) were prepared in Hanks' BalancedSalt Solution containing 25 mM HEPES (pH7.4) and added to either theapical (125 μL) or basolateral (600 μL) chambers of the Transwell plateassembly at a concentration of 10 μM with a final DMSO concentration of0.25%.

50 μM Lucifer Yellow (Sigma) was added to the donor buffer in all wellsto assess integrity of the cell layers by monitoring Lucifer Yellowpermeation. As Lucifer Yellow (LY) cannot freely permeate lipophilicbarriers, a high degree of LY transport indicates poor integrity of thecell layer.

After a 1 hr incubation at 37° C. while shaking at an orbital shaker at150 rpm, 70 μL aliquots were taken from both apical (A) and basal (B)chambers and added to 100 μL1 50:50 acetonitrile:water solutioncontaining analytical internal standard (0.5 μM carbamazepine) in a 96well plate.

Lucifer yellow was measured with a Spectramax Gemini XS (Ex 426 nm andEm 538 nm) in a clean 96 well plate containing 150 μL of liquid frombasolateral and apical side.

Concentrations of compound in the samples were measured by highperformance liquid-chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS).

Apparent permeability (P_(app)) values were calculated from therelationship:

P _(app)=[compound]_(acceptor final) ×V_(acceptor)/([compound]_(donor inital) ×V _(donor))T _(inc) ×V_(donor)/surface area×60×10⁻⁶ cm/s

-   -   V=chamber volume    -   T_(inc)=incubation time.    -   Surface area=0.33 cm²

The Efflux ratios, as an indication of active efflux from the apicalcell surface, were calculated using the ratio of P_(app) B>A/P_(app)A>B.

The following assay acceptance criteria were used:

-   -   Propranolol: P_(app) (A>B) value≧20(×10⁻⁶ cm/s)    -   Rhodamine 123 or Vinblastine: P_(app) (A>B) value<5 (×10⁻⁶ cm/s)        with Efflux ratio≧5.    -   Lucifer yellow permeability: ≦100 nm/s

TABLE X P_(app) A > B Compound # (×10 − 6 cm/sec) Efflux ratio 1 3.3315.7 2 25 0.95 10 0.05 97.6 11 36.5 0.9

Example 4.6 Pharmacokinetic Study in Rodents 4.6.1 Animals

Sprague-Dawley rats (male, 5-6 weeks old) were obtained from Janvier(France). Rats were acclimatized for at least 7 days before treatmentand were kept on a 12 hr light/dark cycle (0700-1900). Temperature wasmaintained at approximately 22° C., and food and water were provided adlibitum. Two days before administration of compounds 1 and 2, ratsunderwent surgery to place a catheter in the jugular vein underisoflurane anesthesia. After the surgery, rats were housed individually.Rats were deprived of food for at least 16 hours before oral dosing and6 hours after. Water was provided ad libitum.

4.6.2 Pharmacokinetic Study

Compounds were formulated in PEG200/physiological saline (60/40) for theintravenous route and in 0.5% methylcellulose (compounds 1 and 2) and10% hydroxylpropyl-β-cyclodextrine pH3 (compound 11) for the oral route.Test compounds were orally dosed as a single esophageal gavage at 5mg/kg under a dosing volume of 5 ml/kg and intravenously dosed as abolus via the caudal vein at 1 mg/kg under a dosing volume of 5 mL/kg.Each group consisted of 3 rats. For compounds 1 and 2 blood samples werecollected via the jugular vein with lithium heparin as anti-coagulant atthe following time points: 0.05, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 3, 5 and 8 hrs(intravenous route), and 0.25, 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 8 and 24 hrs (oral route).For compound 11, blood samples were collected at the retro-orbital sinuswith lithium heparin as anti-coagulant at the following time points0.25, 1, 3 and 6 hrs (oral route). Whole blood samples were centrifugedat 5000 rpm for 10 min and the resulting plasma samples were stored at−20° C. pending analysis.

4.6.3 Quantification of Compound Levels in Plasma

Plasma concentrations of each test compound were determined by anLC-MS/MS method in which the mass spectrometer was operated in positiveelectrospray mode.

4.6.4 Determination of Pharmacokinetic Parameters

Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using Winnonlin® (Pharsight®,United States).

TABLE XI Compound 1 Compound 2 Compound 11 IV 1 mg/kg PO 5 mg/kg IV 1mg/kg PO 5 mg/kg PO 5 mg/kg (n = 3) (n = 3) (n = 3) (n = 3) (n = 3) C0or Cmax 1407 (28) 310 (33) 863 (4) 1320 (42) 547 (8) (ng/mL) Tmax 2.20.33 0.25 (h) [0.5-5] [0.25-0.5] [0.25-0.25] AUC (0-z) 722 (2) 1429(24)  470 (5) 1437 (33)  690 (23) (ng · h/mL) AUC (0-24 h) 739 (2) 1681(8)  474 (5) 1465 (30) (ng · h/mL) Cl 1.35 (2)  2.12 (5)  Vss 1.76 (3) 1.46 (4)  T½  1.6 (3) 0.74 (8)  0.92 (57) 0.92 (7)  F (%) 45 62

Example 4.7 7-Day Rat Toxicity Study

A 7-day oral toxicity study with test compounds is performed inSprague-Dawley male rats to assess their toxic potential andtoxicokinetics, at daily doses of 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg/day, by gavage,at the constant dosage-volume of 5 mL/kg/day.

The test compounds are formulated in 30% (v/v) HPβCD in purified water.Each group included 5 principal male rats as well as 3 satellite animalsfor toxicokinetics. A fourth group is given 30% (v/v) HPβCD in wateronly, at the same frequency, dosage volume and by the same route ofadministration, and acted as the vehicle control group.

The goal of the study is to determine the lowest dose that resulted inno adverse events being identified (no observable adverse effectlevel—NOAEL).

Example 4.8 Hepatocyte Stability

Models to evaluate metabolic clearance in hepatocyte arc described byMcGinnity et al. Drug Metabolism and Disposition 2008, 32, 11, 1247.

Example 4.9 Liability for QT Prolongation

Potential for QT prolongation was assessed in the hERG patch clampassay.

Conventional Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp

Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were performed using an EPC10amplifier controlled by Pulse v8.77 software (HEKA). Series resistancewas typically less than 10 MΩ and compensated by greater than 60%,recordings were not leak subtracted. Electrodes were manufactured fromGC150TF pipette glass (Harvard).

The external bathing solution contained: 135 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 1.8 mMCaCl₂, 5 mM Glucose, 10 mM HEPES, pH 7.4.

The internal patch pipette solution contained: 100 mM Kgluconate, 20 mMKCl, 1 mM CaCl₂, 1 mM MgCl₂, 5 mM Na₂ATP, 2 mM Glutathione, 11 mM EGTA,10 mM HEPES, pH 7.2.

Drugs were perfused using a Biologic MEV-9/EVH-9 rapid perfusion system.

All recordings were performed on HEK293 cells stably expressing hERGchannels. Cells are cultured on 12 mm round coverslips (German glass,Bellco) anchored in the recording chamber using two platinum rods(Goodfellow). hERG currents were evoked using an activating pulse to +40mV for 1000 ms followed by a tail current pulse to −50 mV for 2000 ms,holding potential was −80 mV. Pulses were applied every 20 s and allexperiments were performed at room temperature.

Results

For example, when subjected to this assay, the measured IC₅₀ of Compound1 was greater than 150 μM.

General Conclusions

The data provided in the present application demonstrate that Compound 1(the compound of the invention) exhibits significantly improved in vivopotency compared to structurally similar compounds. This improvement isunexpected and could not have been predicted by a person of skill in theart, particularly because many of these structurally similar compoundsexhibit very similar in vitro potency against JAK1 and JAK2.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the foregoingdescriptions are exemplary and explanatory in nature, and intended toillustrate the invention and its preferred embodiments. Through routineexperimentation, an artisan will recognise apparent modifications andvariations that may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention. Thus, the invention is intended to be defined not by theabove description, but by the following claims and their equivalents.

REFERENCES

-   Choy E H, Panayi G S. (2001). N Engl J Med. 344: 907-16.-   Chubinskaya S and Kuettner K E (2003). Regulation of osteogenic    proteins by chondrocytes. The international journal of biochemistry    & cell biology 35(9)1323-1340.-   Clegg D O et al. (2006) N Engl J Med. 2006 354:795-808. Glucosamine,    chondroitin sulfate, and the two in combination for painful knee    osteoarthritis.-   Firestein G S. (2003). Nature. 423:356-61.-   Lee D M, Weinblatt M E (2001). Lancet. 358: 903-11.-   Legendre F, Dudhia J, Pujol J-P, Bogdanowicz P. (2003) JAK/STAT but    not ERK1/ERK2 pathway mediates interleuking (IL)-6/soluble IL-6R    down-regulation of type II collagen, aggrecan core, and link protein    transcription in articular chondrocytes. J Biol Chem.    278(5)2903-2912.-   Li W Q, Dehnade F, Zafarullah M. (2001) Oncostatin M-induced matrix    metalloproteinase and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 genes    expression in chondrocytes requires janus kinase/STAT signaling    pathway. (2001) J Immunol 166:3491-3498.-   O'Dell J R. (2004) Therapeutic strategies for rheumatoid arthritis.    N Engl J Med. 350(25):2591-602.-   Osaki M, Tan L, Choy B K, Yoshida Y, Cheah K S E, Auron P E,    Goldring M B. (2003) The TATA-containing core promoter of the type    II collagen gene (COL2A1) is the target of interferon-gamma-mediated    inhibition in human chondrocytes: requirement for STAT1alpha, JAK1    and JAK2. Biochem J 369:103-115.-   Otero M, Lago R, Lago F, Gomez Reino J J, Gualillo O. (2005)    Signalling pathway involved in nitric oxide synthase type II    activation in chondrocytes: synergistic effect of leptin with    interleukin-1. Arthritis Research & Therapy 7:R581-R591.-   Sims N A et al., (2004) Targeting osteoclasts with zoledronic acid    prevents bone destruction in collagen-induced arthritis, Arthritis    Rheum. 50 2338-2346:-   Rodig S J, Meraz M A, White J M, Lampe P A, Riley J K, Arthur C D,    King K L, Sheehan K C F, Yin L, Pennica D, Johnson E M, Schreiber    R D. (1998) Disruption of the Jak1 gene demonstrates obligatory and    nonredundant roles of the jaks in cytokine-induced biologic    responses Cell 93: 373-383.-   Smolen J S, Steiner G. (2003). Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2: 473-88.-   Wieland H A, Michaelis M, Kirschbaum B J, Rudolphi K A. (2005). Nat    Rev Drug Discov. 4:331-44. Osteoarthritis—an untreatable disease?-   Tam, L., McGlynn, L. M., Traynor, P., Mukherjee, R., Bartlett, J. M.    S., Edwards, J. (2007) British Journal of Cancer, 97, 378-383-   Constantinescu et al., 2007, Trends in Biochemical Sciences 33(3):    122-131-   Tetsuji Naka, Norihiro Nishimoto and Tadamitsu Kishimoto, Arthritis    Res 2002, 4 (suppl 3):S233-S242-   O'Shea J. et al. Nature Review Drug Discovery 3 (2004) 555-564: A    new modality for immunesuppresion: targeting the JAK/STAT pathway-   Vainchenker W. et al. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology    19 (2008) 385-393: JAKs in pathology: Role of Janus kinases in    hematopoietic malignancies and immune deficiencies-   Levy D. and Loomis C. New England Journal of Medicine 357 (2007)    1655-1658: STAT3 signaling and the Hyper-IgE-syndrome-   Wernig et al. (2008) Efficacy of TG101348, a selective JAK2    inhibitor, in treatment of a murine model of JAK2V617F-induced    polycythemia vera, Cancer Cell 13(4), 311-320-   Geron et al. (2008) Selective inhibition of JAK2-driven erythroid    differentiation of polycythemia vera progenitors Cancer Cell 13 (4),    321-30-   Wirtz et al. (2007) Mouse Models of Inflammatory Bowel Disease,    Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 2007, 1073-1083:-   Nials et al. (2008) Mouse Models of Allergic Asthma: Acute and    Chronic Allergen Challenge, Disease Models & Mechanisms, 213-220.-   Ip et al. (2006) Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 up-regulate monocyte    chemoattractant protein-1 expression in human bronchial epithelial    cells: involvement of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase,    extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and Janus kinase-2 but not    c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1/2 signalling pathways, Clin. Exp. Immun,    162-172.-   Pernis et al. (2002) JAK-STAT signaling in asthma J. Clin. Invest.    1279.-   Kudlacz et al. (2008) The JAK-3 inhibitor CP-690550 is a potent    anti-inflammatory agent in a murine model of pulmonary eosinophilia,    Eur J Pharmaco 154-161.-   Mullighan C G, Zhang J, Harvey R C, Collins-Underwood J R, Schulman    B A, Phillips L A, Tasian S K, Loh M L, Su X, Liu W, Devidas M,    Atlas S R, Chen I-M, Clifford R J, Gerhard D S, Carroll W L, Reaman    G H, Smith M, Downing J R, Hunger S P Willmane C L; (2009) JAK    mutations in high-risk childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, PNAS    May 22. [Epub ahead of print]-   Argiles J M, Lopez-Soriano F L (1998) Catabolic proinflammatory    cytokines. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 1:245-51.-   Bush K A, Farmer K M, Walker J S, Kirkham B W. (2002) Reduction of    joint inflammation and bone erosion in rat adjuvant arthritis by    treatment with interleukin-17 receptor IgG1 Fc fusion protein.    Arthritis Rheum. 46: 802-5.-   Jou I M, Shiau A L, Chen S Y, Wang C R, Shieh D B, Tsai C S, Wu    C L. (2005) Thrombospondin 1 as an effective gene therapeutic    strategy in collagen-induced arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 52:339-44.-   Nishida K, Komiyama T, Miyazawa S, Shen Z N, Furumatsu T, Doi H,    Yoshida A, Yamana J, Yamamura M, Ninomiya Y, Inoue H,    Asahara H. (2004) Histone deacetylase inhibitor suppression of    autoantibody-mediated arthritis in mice via regulation of p16INK4a    and p21(WAF1/Cip1) expression. Arthritis Rheum. 10: 3365-76.-   Rall L C, Roubenoff R. (2004) Rheumatoid cachexia: metabolic    abnormalities, mechanisms and interventions. Rheumatology;    10:1219-23.-   Salvemini D, Mazzon E, Dugo L, Scrraino I, Dc Sarro A, Caputi A P,    Cuzzocrea S. (2001) Amelioration of joint disease in a rat model of    collagen-induced arthritis by M40403, a superoxide dismutase    mimetic. Arthritis Rheum. 44:2909-21.-   Shelton D L, Zeller J, Ho W H, Pons J, Rosenthal A. (2005) Nerve    growth factor mediates hyperalgesia and cachexia in auto-immune    arthritis. Pain. 116:8-16.-   Sims N A, Green J R, Glatt M, Schlict S, Martin T J, Gillespie M T,    Romas E. (2004) Targeting osteoclasts with zoledronic acid prevents    bone destruction in collagen-induced arthritis. Arthritis Rheum.,    50: 2338-46.-   Walsmith J, Abad L, Kehayias J, Roubenoff R. (2004) Tumor necrosis    factor-alpha production is associated with less body cell mass in    women with rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol.; 31:23-9.-   Khachigian, L. M. Collagen antibody-induced arthritis. (2006) Nature    Protocols 1, 2512-6.-   Lin H S, Hu C Y, Chan H Y, Liew Y Y, Huang H P, Lepescheux L,    Bastianelli E, Baron R, Rawadi G, Clément-Lacroix P. (2007)    Anti-rheumatic activities of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors    in vivo in collagen-induced arthritis in rodents. Br J Pharmacol.    April; 150 (7):829-31.-   McGinnity et al. Drug Metabolism and Disposition 2008, 32, 11, 1247.

All publications, including but not limited to patents and patentapplications, cited in this specification are herein incorporated byreference as if each individual publication were specifically andindividually indicated to be incorporated by reference herein as thoughfully set forth.

From the foregoing description, various modifications and changes in thecompositions and methods of this invention will occur to those skilledin the art. All such modifications coming within the scope of theappended claims are intended to be included therein.

It should be understood that factors such as the differential cellpenetration capacity of the various compounds can contribute todiscrepancies between the activity of the compounds in the in vitrobiochemical and cellular assays.

At least some of the chemical names of compounds of the invention asgiven and set forth in this application, may have been generated on anautomated basis by use of a commercially available chemical namingsoftware program, and have not been independently verified.Representative programs performing this function include the Lexichemnaming tool sold by Open Eye Software, Inc. and the Autonom Softwaretool sold by MDL, Inc. In the instance where the indicated chemical nameand the depicted structure differ, the depicted structure will control.

Chemical structures shown herein were prepared using either ChemDraw® orISIS®/DRAW. Any open valency appearing on a carbon, oxygen or nitrogenatom in the structures herein indicates the presence of a hydrogen atom.Where a chiral center exists in a structure but no specificstereochemistry is shown for the chiral center, both enantiomersassociated with the chiral structure are encompassed by the structure.

1. A compound according to Formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 2. A pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and apharmaceutically effective amount of a compound according claim
 1. 3.The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 2 comprising a furthertherapeutic agent.
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. (canceled) 7.(canceled)
 8. A method for the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis ofinflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases, proliferative diseases,transplantation rejection, diseases involving impairment of cartilageturnover, congenital cartilage malformations, and/or diseases associatedwith hypersecretion of IL6, comprising administering an amount of acompound of claim 1, sufficient to effect said treatment, prevention orprophylaxis.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the saidcompound is administered in combination with a further therapeuticagent.
 10. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 2, whereinthe further therapeutic agent is an agent for the treatment, preventionor prophylaxis of inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases,proliferative diseases, transplantation rejection, diseases involvingimpairment of cartilage turnover, congenital cartilage malformations,and/or diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6.
 11. A method forthe treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of inflammatory conditions,autoimmune diseases, proliferative diseases, transplantation rejection,diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover, congenitalcartilage malformations, and/or diseases associated with hypersecretionof IL6, comprising administering an amount of a pharmaceuticalcomposition of claim 2, sufficient to effect said treatment, preventionor prophylaxis.
 12. A method for the treatment, prevention orprophylaxis of inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases,proliferative diseases, transplantation rejection, diseases involvingimpairment of cartilage turnover, congenital cartilage malformations,and/or diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6, comprisingadministering an amount of a pharmaceutical composition of claim 3,sufficient to effect said treatment, prevention or prophylaxis.
 13. Themethod according to claim 11, wherein the pharmaceutical composition isadministered in combination with a further therapeutic agent.
 14. Themethod according to claim 12, wherein the pharmaceutical composition isadministered in combination with a further therapeutic agent.
 15. Themethod according to claim 9, wherein the further therapeutic agent is anagent for the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of inflammatoryconditions, autoimmune diseases, proliferative diseases, transplantationrejection, diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover,congenital cartilage malformations, and/or diseases associated withhypersecretion of IL6.
 16. The method according to claim 13, wherein thefurther therapeutic agent is an agent for the treatment, prevention orprophylaxis of inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases,proliferative diseases, transplantation rejection, diseases involvingimpairment of cartilage turnover, congenital cartilage malformations,and/or diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6.
 17. The methodaccording to claim 14, wherein the further therapeutic agent is an agentfor the treatment, prevention or prophylaxis of inflammatory conditions,autoimmune diseases, proliferative diseases, transplantation rejection,diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover, congenitalcartilage malformations, and/or diseases associated with hypersecretionof IL6.
 18. The method according to claim 8, wherein the inflammatorycondition is rheumatoid arthritis.
 19. The method according to claim 11,wherein the inflammatory condition is rheumatoid arthritis.
 20. Themethod according to claim 12, wherein the inflammatory condition isrheumatoid arthritis.